Instagram just pushed live two updates that change how content gets discovered and shared.
One comes directly from Instagram head Adam Mosseri. The other was announced by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and spotlighted by Today Years Old.
Both deserve your attention if you rely on Instagram to stay visible and top of mind with your audience (even when they’re not thinking of a move anytime soon).
Read on for a closer look.
See and Control Your Reels Algorithm
Instagram has always used rankings and recommendations to decide what you see. Now, the platform is inviting you behind the curtain.
A new feature inside the Reels tab lets you preview and adjust the specific topics Instagram believes you’re interested in, so the feed becomes more aligned with what you actually want.
As Mosseri prefaced his announcement:
“Ever wish you could see your algorithm? Maybe make some changes? Well, as of this week, you can do so on Instagram, at least for the Reels tab.”
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Sounds appealing, right? If you have more control over what you see when you’re scrolling through reels, you see more of what you actually want to see in the same amount of time. Theoretically, anyway.
So, here’s how to use it.
You’ll see a new icon in the top right corner of the Reels feed. Tap it, and Instagram presents your personalized list of topics. From there, you can:
- Add topics that align with your interests
- Remove topics that don’t fit your brand
- Block topics so you never see them again
Mosseri added:
“Those changes will be reflected in your Reels tab forevermore.”
It’s a small change on the surface, but it signals where Instagram is headed:
- More transparency
- More personalization
- More user control over what you see
Instagram is already testing similar functionality in Search and Explore, with plans to expand to the Home feed.
Mosseri hinted at a bigger vision:
“We want to bring this to the main feed, to the Home tab, as well. That’s just going to take a little bit more time.”
There’s also a share button inside this new interface. You can post a snapshot of your algorithm to Stories, which gives followers a peek into your interests.
It’s an interactive format that could encourage engagement in a fresh way. Time will tell.
What to do with this update
Take ownership of how Instagram categorizes you. That’s especially important if your content themes have shifted, but the algorithm hasn’t caught up.
Here are a few actions you can take:
- Look at your own Reel topics and remove anything that doesn’t align with your niche or message.
- Add topics related to the audience you want to reach.
Small fixes here could improve relevance and reach. If you want IG to show your content to more of the right people, it starts with making sure the platform understands who you are.
Public Stories Can Now Be Reshared Without Tags
Instagram users just got a new way to share Story content with their own audience. According to a post by Today Years Old, public Stories can now be reshared by anyone. No tag required.
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This is a major shift. Before now, Stories resharing was limited to posts where you were tagged. That put real limits on how Story content spread.
It also meant Stories created by brands or creators often had shorter lifespans.
With this update:
- Story content can now travel farther, faster.
- Public Stories have new viral potential.
- Sharable Stories become a high-value asset.
It also means distribution strategies need an upgrade. Stories can no longer be an afterthought. If content has shareability built in, it’s suddenly capable of reaching outside your follower base.
What to do with this update
If you want your Stories to spread, you need to give viewers a reason to hit “Share.”
That means publishing Stories that:
- Deliver value quickly: helpful data bites, surprising visuals, quick market insights.
- Include branding so you always benefit from shares.
- Encourage action such as polls or prompts that people feel compelled to pass on.
This opens up a new lane for distributing your best content. Treat Stories like your most shareable posts, not your leftovers.
More Control and More Reach
Discovery and distribution are changing at the same time. You now have a clearer role in shaping your algorithm, and your Stories can reach people who’ve never followed you.
Greater control comes with greater expectation. Instagram keeps rewarding creators who provide exactly what their audience wants. These updates give you more tools to do that.
Test both features this week. Shape the feed that shapes your reach. Build Stories that get shared.
The sooner you adapt, the more attention you’ll capture. And if you’re also creating more hyperlocal content, getting more eyes on your posts is a double win.
