Facebook “Your algorithm” is a new control that lets you tell Facebook, in your own words, what you want to see more or less of in Feed and Reels. You open it from the three-dot menu on any post, and Meta says recommendations update in real time. Below is a step-by-step guide, what it can’t change (your likes and watching still count), and the matching settings on Instagram.
Key takeaways
- Meta announced “Your algorithm” for Facebook on October 13, 2026. It is rolling out gradually.
- Open it from the three dots (…) on any post in Feed or Reels.
- Type plain requests like “more local GTA food spots” or “less celebrity gossip.”
- It adds to the old signals. What you like, comment on and watch still shapes your feed.
- Instagram has had its own “Your algorithm” for Reels since late 2025.
What Facebook “Your algorithm” is
For years, your only way to shape Facebook’s recommendations was indirect: like things, hide things, and hope. “Your algorithm” is a dedicated space where you add topics you want more of and topics you want less of, in plain language. Meta says it uses large language models to understand what you mean, then combines your request with the signals it already uses.
Meta also redesigned the three-dot menu on posts to make these controls easier to find. When you tap Interested or Not interested on a post, Facebook may now ask a follow-up question so you can explain why.
How to use Facebook Your algorithm, step by step
- Update the Facebook app on your phone.
- Find any post in your Feed or a Reel.
- Tap the three dots (…) on that post.
- Choose “Your algorithm.”
- Type what you want more of. Be specific: “more Toronto restaurant openings,” “more beginner woodworking,” “more Raptors highlights.”
- Type what you want less of. For example: “less political arguments,” “fewer AI-generated images,” “less prank videos.”
- Review your topic list. You can come back to the same space later to edit or remove topics.
- Scroll for a few minutes and check whether the changes are showing. Meta says updates happen in real time.
Don’t see it yet? Meta says the feature is “rolling out” and hasn’t published a country-by-country schedule, so it may take time to reach Canadian accounts. Keep the app updated and check the three-dot menu again in a few days.
Write better requests (and what it won’t change)
The tool understands plain English, but vague requests get vague results. A few tips:
- Be specific. “More cooking” is broad. “More quick weeknight dinners under 30 minutes” is useful.
- Add a place. “More events in Mississauga and Brampton” helps if you want local content.
- Use “less” for whole categories, and use Hide or Snooze for specific people or Pages.
- Keep it short. Add a few clear topics rather than one long paragraph.
The catch: your behaviour still counts. Meta says its ranking still learns from what you like, comment on and watch, among thousands of other signals. If you ask for “less drama” but keep stopping to watch drama Reels, your viewing habits will keep pulling them back. The text box helps, but it isn’t a filter that overrides everything.
Also remember that ads and posts from friends, groups and Pages you follow are a different story from recommendations. If one person’s posts bother you, use Snooze (30 days) or Unfollow from the same three-dot menu. For a calmer, chronological view, open the Feeds tab and pick Friends, Groups, Pages or Favourites.
The Instagram equivalents
Instagram got its own “Your algorithm” first. It started in the Reels tab for U.S. users in December 2025 and has since expanded to English-speaking users globally. Here’s how to use the Instagram versions:
- Reels: open the Reels tab and tap the slider icon at the top right. You’ll see a summary of topics shaping your Reels, and you can add or remove topics.
- Single posts: tap the three dots on a post or Reel and choose Not interested (or Interested) to steer suggestions.
- Settings: go to your profile, then Settings and activity → Content preferences to adjust suggested content, sensitive content limits and muted words.
- Fresh start: in Content preferences you can also reset suggested content if your recommendations have gone completely off track.
Threads has a related trick too: posting “Dear Algo” followed by what you want adjusts your feed for three days, though Meta has listed it for the U.S., UK, Australia and New Zealand, not Canada.
What it means for small businesses on Facebook
If people can now say “show me more local bakeries” or “less generic AI content,” your Page needs to clearly look like the thing people ask for. A few practical moves:
- Be clear about your topic and location in captions and on-screen text, for example “Brampton custom cakes,” not just “new drop!”
- Post real photos and video. If users start asking for less AI-generated content, obviously synthetic posts may lose reach.
- Keep earning engagement. Likes, comments and watching still count, so questions and short useful Reels still matter.
Station take
This is one of the more useful changes Meta has made to Facebook in a while, and it takes about two minutes to set up. Add three “more” topics and three “less” topics today, then be honest with yourself about what you actually stop and watch, because that still counts. If your phone time is the bigger problem, our guide to finding forgotten subscriptions is another quick clean-up, and parents should read our explainer on Canada’s under-16 social media bill. More quick wins are in Tips.
FAQ
Where is “Your algorithm” on Facebook?
Tap the three dots (…) on any post in your Feed or on a Reel, then choose “Your algorithm.” If it isn’t there, it hasn’t reached your account yet.
Is Facebook Your algorithm available in Canada?
Meta says it is rolling out but hasn’t published which countries get it first. Update your app and check again over the coming days.
Will it stop all political or AI content?
No. It reduces recommendations on topics you ask for less of, but your likes, comments and viewing still influence what you see, and posts from people you follow are handled separately.
Can I reset my Instagram algorithm?
Yes. Go to Settings and activity, then Content preferences, and look for the option to reset suggested content. You can also edit topics through the slider icon in Reels.
Sources: Meta Newsroom · Unite.AI · Windows Report · Social Media Today · Instagram. This article was prepared with AI assistance and reviewed by Media Station. Disclosure.