X and Instagram roll out new tools letting users customize their feeds

Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) have rolled out updates to give users more control over their recommendations. The features address common issues with social media feeds, like seeing irrelevant topics. The updates provide direct ways to view and adjust what you see.

On Instagram, the “Your Algorithm” tool is now rolling out to the Explore page, as reported by user @howfxr through a post on X. Previously, the feature was limited to Reels. You can tap the two-heart icon at the top right, and it’ll open the tool, where you’ll find the option to adjust topic preferences. For example, you can pick Sports or Technology.

I checked for the availability of this feature myself, but I was unable to find it. This suggests a phased rollout, and it’s probably still under expansion, so you may not see it right away. Additionally, Instagram mentions in the Help Center that it may not be available to everyone right now.

Moving to X, one of the key complaints is “Too much politics.” Partially addressing this problem, the company has expanded its topic snooze option globally, so you can now control what you see on your feed, as shared by Radu Oncescu on X.

You’ll have the option to select specific topics from a menu and hide them temporarily for 24 hours. The list of topics includes Politics, Iran Conflict, Science and Technology, etc.

The quick-access menu to customize your feed has also not rolled out for everyone yet. I’ve updated the X app to the latest version on iOS, and I still don’t see the feature. It’s supposed to appear with a tiny indicator, next to the “For You” text at the top. It works similarly to customizing between “Most Recent” and “Popular.” These customizations are already available under the “Following” tab.

The reception to the feature on X was mixed because it only lets you mute topics for 24 hours. The sorting system is seemingly broken, and it hides other relevant topics that the users want to see as well. In general, people want the option to mute specific topics forever, and not just for a day.

While the feature is nowhere near perfect, it’s a good start. With more feedback, I’m hoping X will add the option to properly customize our feeds.

In other X news, the company has postponed the release of the XChat messaging app. You can read about that here.

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