Meta’s social media platform, Threads, is reportedly experimenting with a groundbreaking new feature that will allow users to actively “tag” its algorithm, granting them more direct control over their content feeds. This innovative tool, currently an internal prototype, aligns with Instagram’s broader efforts to enhance personalization across its services. It’s a significant move towards empowering users, and notably, it echoes similar customization plans that Elon Musk has outlined for X.
Gaining Control: Threads’ Algorithmic Tagging Feature
Tech enthusiast Alessandro Paluzzi first uncovered this in-development feature, which promises to revolutionize how users interact with their Threads algorithm. According to reports, this functionality is closely integrated with upcoming algorithm configuration tools destined for Instagram. Although Meta has confirmed the existence of this tool, it remains an internal prototype and is not yet ready for public testing.
Paluzzi shared an image suggesting that Threads will introduce a screen where users can tag a specific account to signal their content preferences – indicating what they want to see more or less of. The account associated with this feature, @threads.algo, is already active on Instagram and followed by several Meta engineers. However, Instagram has not yet provided any timeline for its release.
This initiative from Meta draws a clear parallel to Elon Musk’s vision for X (formerly Twitter). Musk recently stated that future updates would enable users to tag Grok, X’s AI chatbot, to refine their feeds in real-time. He also indicated that by November, the platform’s algorithm would be entirely driven by AI.
The algorithm feature for Threads is a key component of Instagram’s broader strategy to prioritize Reels and personalized recommendations within its app. Earlier this week, Instagram announced it would introduce more direct user control, allowing individuals to select which topics appear more or less frequently in their feeds.
Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, explained that users will soon find a button at the top of their feed. Tapping this will open a menu where they can choose from suggested topics, search and add their own, or specify topics they wish to see less often. Instagram believes this feature will help the algorithm adapt to evolving user interests, for instance, reducing football-related content if a user’s favorite team is performing poorly. For Threads, a text-centric application, a real-time “tag the algorithm” interface could prove even more beneficial than navigating through extensive settings.