Facebook Your Algorithm: How to Use the New Feature

Facebook has just given everyone a way to tell it what to show them, in their own words. Meta calls it Your algorithm, and it's one of the few AI features lately that changes something you can feel the same day you use it: what turns up in your Feed and Reels.

It matters twice over if you run a business. You'll want your own feed to be useful again, and you'll want to understand how the people you're trying to reach can now steer what they see. This guide sticks to what Meta has said about the feature, and I've added a few ways to use it and a prompt for writing your topics.

What is Facebook's Your algorithm?

It's a new set of AI-powered tools announced by Meta that lets you tell Facebook, in your own words, what you want to see in Feed and Reels. Meta says your recommendations respond right away. The idea is that you stop guessing what the system has learned about you and simply tell it.

Behind it, Meta says its ranking systems already infer your interests from what you engage with, from the posts you like and comment on to what you watch, among thousands of other signals. What's new is that large language models help the system understand the interests, context and intent behind plain language, so the free text you type can sit alongside everything it already knows.

Where do I find Your algorithm?

In the three-dot menu on a post. Meta says it has updated that menu on every post to make the customisation tools easier to reach, and Your algorithm is found there. It's described as a dedicated space where you can add and manage the topics you want to see in Feed and Reels.

Meta says it's rolling the feature out, and it hasn't published a list of countries or dates, so if you can't see it yet, check again after you update the app.

How do I use Your algorithm?

1. Open a post in your Feed or Reels and select the three-dot menu.
2. Choose Your algorithm.
3. Add the topics you want to see more of, and manage the ones already there.
4. Come back after a few days and edit them as your interests change.

Because Meta says the system adapts within the same session, you shouldn't have to wait long to see whether the change is working. Scroll for a minute after you add a topic and see whether the mix of posts moves. If nothing seems to change, try wording the topic more specifically rather than adding lots of new ones.

What are the new feedback options?

When you choose Interested or Not interested on a post in Feed or Reels, Facebook may now ask follow-up questions for more detail. You can say, in your own words, what you liked or disliked, and what you want to see more or less of. Meta says your recommendations update in real time.

That makes the Not interested button much more useful than it used to be. Instead of a blunt signal, you can give a reason, such as "too many ads for things I've already bought" or "more of the workshop videos, fewer memes".

How should I word my topics?

Short and specific beats long and clever. Name the thing, then the angle. "Small business bookkeeping tips" will do more than "business". If you want fewer of something, say that plainly too. Here's a prompt to run in any AI assistant before you type anything into Facebook.

Copy this prompt

I use Facebook for [work / learning / hobbies / local news].
Here are the posts I enjoyed most this week: [describe them].
Here are the ones I wish I hadn't seen: [describe them].
Write me eight short topic phrases to add as things I want more of, and four phrases for things I want less of. Keep each under six words and make them specific.

What does this mean for a business page?

Meta hasn't published guidance for pages, so I won't pretend there is a rule. What I can say is what follows logically from its description. People can now tell Facebook what they want in words, which means topics, not just formats, shape what they see. Posts that are clearly about one thing, in plain language, are easier for any system to match to those words.

So the practical response is old advice that just got stronger: be obvious about the subject of each post, use the words your customers would type, and check that your page covers a topic your audience asks for. I've covered that side in my tips for growing a Facebook business page.

Copy and paste this prompt

Here are five recent posts from my business page: [paste].
For each one, tell me in one line what a person would have to say they wanted more of to see it, in everyday words.
Then suggest two clearer opening lines for the weakest post.

How often should I update my topics?

Treat it like a weekly tidy-up rather than a one-off job. Your interests move, and so does what you need from Facebook: a topic you added for an old project may not matter now. A few minutes once a week is plenty.

• Remove any topic that no longer earns its place.
• Add one or two things you're curious about this week.
• Use Not interested with a short reason when a post misses the mark.
• Notice whether Reels and Feed look different within the same session.

If you use Facebook for your business, keep a note of the topics you add. It tells you what you think your audience wants, and it's a handy list to compare with the posts you publish.

Will it show me less of what I want to avoid?

Meta says you can tell it what you want to see more or less of, and that your recommendations respond. It doesn't promise to remove a topic completely, and I wouldn't treat it as a filter you can rely on for sensitive subjects. If something upsets you, use the platform's blocking and reporting tools as well.

Is it worth setting up if I'm only on Facebook casually?

Yes, and it takes about a minute. The people who'll notice the biggest change are those whose Feed has drifted into things they never asked for. Add three or four topics you really care about, use Not interested with a reason a few times, and see how it feels after a day or two. If you don't like the result, you can edit the list again whenever you want.

Tools that work with this

There's nothing to install: it's a built-in feature. If you manage a page, a scheduler such as Meta Business Suite, Buffer or Later keeps your posting steady while you work out which topics your audience responds to, and a simple spreadsheet is enough to log what you changed and when. For a wider look at using AI in your social content, see how to use AI in marketing.

If you'd like help turning changes like this into a social plan that fits your business, this is how I work with business owners.

Frequently asked questions

What is Your algorithm on Facebook?

It's a new feature Meta announced that lets you add and manage the topics you want to see in Feed and Reels, using your own words. Meta says recommendations adapt in real time.

Where is Your algorithm on Facebook?

Meta says it's in the three-dot menu on posts, which it has updated to make the customisation tools easier to reach.

Is Your algorithm available to everyone?

Meta says it's rolling the feature out and hasn't listed countries or dates. If you can't see it, update the app and check again later.

What happens when I tap Not interested?

Facebook may ask follow-up questions so you can say in your own words what you want to see more or less of. Meta says your recommendations then update in real time.

Does Facebook use AI to decide what I see?

Meta says its ranking systems use thousands of signals, such as what you like, comment on and watch, and that large language models now help understand the plain-language interests you type.