Instagram Tests New Feature Lets You Tune Your Feed by Adding or Removing Topics in Reels
You can now directly control what shows up in your Instagram Reels feed by adding or removing topics you’re actually interested in—no more relying just on the algorithm’s guesses. The feature basically lets you pick themes like “Luxury Watches,” “Fashion Week,” or “Stand-up Comedy,” and tell Instagram what you want to see more or less of. If you’ve ever wondered, “Why am I seeing endless makeup tutorials when I only follow football accounts?” this gives you a way to fix that.
Here’s how it works: There’s a new section in Settings called “Your Algorithm.” Instagram shows you a summary of topics you’ve engaged with, and you can tap Add+ to include new interests, or quickly remove stuff you’re over. It starts with Reels only, not your main feed, and no, you can’t filter your whole Instagram yet. If you’re part of the test (right now, it’s only rolling out to select users; Instagram hasn’t said exactly where), you’ll see the option. Otherwise, keep your app updated, but don’t hold your breath yet.
The announcement came on October 29, 2025, straight from Instagram chief Adam Mosseri on Threads: “We’re starting to test a way for you to tune your algorithm on Instagram by adding and removing topics based on your interests. We want people to have more control over their Instagram experience”. Is it live for everyone? No, just “a few users,” with no clear list of countries yet. No timeline for a full rollout either.
Why now? Instagram’s algorithm gets complaints for being too random, showing too much content from strangers, or too many Reels that feel unrelated to your likes. TikTok lets you filter and train its algorithm way more easilyInstagram’s playing catch-up here. Unlike older tools like the Not Interested button or parental controls, this is about curating your feed by actual topic, not just occasionally hiding annoying posts.
Example topics it showed Mosseri: Sports, Concerts, Fashion, Bad Bunny. If you love cooking but are sick of prank videos, you can tell Instagram directly. So, “Is this overdue?” Absolutely. People have wanted this kind of algorithm control for years since Reels blew up and the Explore tab started feeling like a slot machine. Not Interested never really worked; you’d tap it and see the same stuff two days later. This is finally the real deal if it ever rolls out to everyone. For now, it’s still in early testing and only on Reels, but if you get it, definitely poke around in Settings under “Your Algorithm”.
Disclaimer:
This article is for informational purposes only regarding Instagram's experimental Reels topic selection feature. Availability may vary by user and region, as the feature is currently in limited testing. Instagram's interface and options are subject to change based on ongoing feedback and future updates. Always refer to official sources for latest details.
