Social apps let users tune what their algorithms recommend

In short: Big social apps are giving people more direct control over what shows up in their feeds by letting them adjust the recommendation algorithm.

What's going on

For a long time, social media companies mostly decided what you saw. You could follow accounts, like posts, or tap “Not interested,” but the app’s algorithm still ran the show. An algorithm is just a set of rules the app uses to pick posts for you (like a TV channel programmer deciding what comes on next).

Now, several platforms are adding settings that let users steer those recommendations more clearly, often with help from AI. The idea is to move from one standard feed for everyone to something closer to a streaming app, where you can nudge the system toward your tastes.

Threads has introduced tools that let people ask for more or less of certain topics. Its earlier “Dear Algo” feature let users write a public post like “show me more podcasts.” A newer feature, “Your Algo,” lets users make similar requests privately and choose how long they last, such as one, three, or seven days.

Instagram has also rolled out “Your Algorithm,” a settings page that shows the topics Instagram thinks you care about most. You can then adjust those topics to influence what appears across Feed, Explore, and Reels.

TikTok offers “Manage Topics,” where users can slide topic controls up or down. It also added Smart Keyword Filters that try to block related words too, for example filtering “renovation” when you filter “remodeling.”

What to watch

More control sounds helpful, but it also raises questions about how clear these controls really are, and whether people can easily reset or understand the changes. Watch for platforms to add stronger “why am I seeing this” explanations and simpler ways to fine tune or start over.

Source: TechCrunch AI