Facebook adds a tool to let users adjust their feed algorithm

In short: Meta is rolling out “Your Algorithm” on Facebook to let people tell Facebook what topics they want to see more or less of.

What happened

Meta says Facebook users will get a new feature called “Your Algorithm.” It is meant to give people more direct control over what shows up in their Feed and in Facebook Reels (Facebook’s short video section).

With this feature, you can add and manage topics you care about. You can also tap “interested” or “not interested” to push Facebook to show you more or less of certain kinds of posts. Meta says the recommendations should change right away after you make an update.

Meta says you will be able to find these controls in the three dots menu on individual posts. In some cases, Facebook may also show “interested” and “not interested” buttons under a post. Meta says it may ask follow-up questions, and you can answer “in your own words” and see updates in real time.

Meta is also increasing its use of LLMs, or large language models (AI systems trained on lots of text, like an autocomplete that can handle full sentences). Meta says this can help the system understand the “context and intent” behind what you type, so the feed can respond within the same session.

This approach is not brand new for Meta. “Your Algorithm” launched on Instagram earlier this year, and Meta also introduced a similar “Dear Algo” feature on Threads.

Why it matters

Most people experience social media through a feed that is picked for them. This change is Meta’s attempt to make that feed feel more like a set of knobs you can adjust (like tuning a radio) instead of a black box you just live with.

Source: The Verge AI