Social media's next evolution: user-controlled algorithms
Social media feeds are becoming more customizable as platforms like Threads, Instagram, and TikTok introduce tools that let users directly influence the algorithms powering their recommendations. For years, social media giants controlled what users saw in their feeds. While people could follow accounts, like posts or hide content they didn't enjoy, recommendation algorithms controlled what was shown to them.
Key Takeaways
- Now, social platforms are handing over some of their power by allowing users to personalize their algorithms with the help of AI.
Beyond traditional "Not Interested" buttons, apps like Threads, Instagram, and TikTok have begun introducing tools that let people train their own algorithms and influence what appears in their feeds.
- Here's a look at how social media platforms are giving users more control over their recommendation algorithms.
Threads On June 16, 2026, Threads launched a new "Your Algo" feature that builds on the platform's "Dear Algo" tool , which debuted in February.
- Instagram In early June, Instagram launched a new tool that lets you see and control your algorithm across your feed.
The tool, called "Your Algorithm," lets you view the topics that shape your recommendations and customize them to better fit your interests.
- TikTok TikTok features a "Manage Topics" tool that gives you more control over what you see in your "For You" feed.
Launched in 2024, you can access the feature in your settings to customize your preferences for different topics, such as sports, travel, humor, current affairs, dance, and food.
- For example, if you use the Manage Topics tool to filter out "remodeling," TikTok will also filter out "renovation" and "renovations.
Stats & Key Facts
- #" In 2025, TikTok expanded its Manage Topics tool by introducing AI-powered Smart Keyword Filters , which automatically limit content containing related keywords, such as synonyms.
Now, social platforms are handing over some of their power by allowing users to personalize their algorithms with the help of AI. Beyond traditional "Not Interested" buttons, apps like Threads, Instagram, and TikTok have begun introducing tools that let people train their own algorithms and influence what appears in their feeds. The shift reflects an evolution in how recommendation systems work.
Social media feeds are moving away from a one-size-fits-all TV channel and toward something more like a streaming service, where users can tune recommendations to their interests and have more control over what they see. For users, the advantage of customizable algorithms is a feed tailored to their interests. For social media giants, it's a way to boost engagement by displaying content that people are most likely to consume.
Here's a look at how social media platforms are giving users more control over their recommendation algorithms. Threads On June 16, 2026, Threads launched a new "Your Algo" feature that builds on the platform's "Dear Algo" tool , which debuted in February. The "Dear Algo" tool lets users influence their feed by publishing a public post, such as "Dear Algo, show me more posts about podcasts," to indicate the types of content they want to see more or less of in their feed.
For more details please read the original article at TechCrunch AI.
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