Facebook’s New “Your Algorithm” Tool: How to Take Control of Your Feed

Your-Algorithm

Written by

in

For years, Facebook users have complained that their feed feels random. Now Meta is offering a direct fix. A new tool called Your algorithm lets you tell Facebook, in plain words, what you want to see more or less of. If you have ever wanted to control your Facebook feed instead of fighting it, this is the biggest change in a long time. Here is what it does and how to use it well.

What “Your Algorithm” Actually Does

Announced on 13 October 2026 in a Meta newsroom post, the feature gives you a dedicated space to add and manage the topics you want in your Feed and Reels. You can type requests in your own words, such as more home cooking videos or less celebrity gossip. Meta says your recommendations respond in real time, even within the same session.

Behind the scenes, Meta is now using large language models in its ranking systems. That is the technology that lets Facebook understand a written request rather than relying only on what you click and watch.

How to Use It, Step by Step

The feature is rolling out gradually, so menus may look slightly different on your account. The basic steps are:

  • Tap the three-dot menu on any post in Feed or Reels.
  • Choose Your algorithm to view and edit the topics shaping your recommendations.
  • Add topics you want more of, and remove or reduce ones you are tired of.
  • On individual posts, tap Interested or Not interested.
  • Answer any follow-up questions. Facebook may ask why you liked or disliked something, and a sentence of detail helps.

Be specific. A request like “local footy highlights and Aussie travel tips” gives the system far more to work with than “sport”.

Is It Available in Australia?

Meta says the feature is rolling out but has not named countries, languages or a completion date. Its track record offers a clue. Instagram introduced its own Your Algorithm for Reels in the US in December 2025, then expanded it across Feed, Reels and Explore globally in English in June 2026, as TechCrunch noted. Meta’s similar tool on Threads, Dear Algo, is already available in Australia. If you do not see it yet, update the Facebook app and check again over the coming weeks.

The Privacy Trade-Off

Telling an algorithm exactly what you want is useful, but it also hands Meta clearer information about your interests. That information can shape ads as well as posts. A few habits help:

  • Avoid typing sensitive details, such as health conditions or money problems, into topic requests.
  • Review your topics now and then, and delete ones you no longer want linked to your account.
  • Check your ad preferences in Facebook’s settings alongside your feed topics.

Our guide to [Link: social media privacy settings in Australia] walks through the settings worth changing.

What It Means for Creators and Businesses

For pages and creators, this adds a new signal they cannot see. If many users ask for less of a certain style of post, reach may drop without an obvious reason. The safest response is to post genuinely useful content that people would ask for by name. Scheduling tools still matter, as our comparison of Buffer vs Publer explains, but relevance now matters even more.

A Feed That Finally Listens

Your algorithm turns Facebook’s ranking system from something that watches you into something you can talk to. Used carefully, it can make scrolling more useful and less frustrating. The best results will come from clear, specific requests and a regular check on what you have shared.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do my topic changes last forever?

Meta has not said whether added topics are permanent or fade over time. Treat them as something to revisit every few months.

Does this remove ads?

No. Meta describes Your algorithm as a way to shape recommended posts and Reels. Ads are managed through Facebook’s separate ad preferences, so check those too.

Will posts from friends disappear?

Meta has not said the tool hides posts from friends. It is designed to shape recommendations, and you can still manage friends and pages you follow through Facebook’s existing feed preferences.

Can I undo a change?

Yes. You can remove topics from Your algorithm at any time, and your recommendations will adjust.

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *