Facebook “Your Algorithm” Explained: What Brands and Creators Should Change
On October 13, 2026, Meta announced Your algorithm for Facebook, a new control that lets people tell Feed and Reels what they want to see, in their own words. If you run a Page, manage a brand or create content on Facebook, that changes who decides your audience: people can now state their interests directly instead of leaving the system to guess.
This guide covers what Meta has confirmed, what it has not said, and a practical 30-day plan for brands and creators. We checked it against Meta’s newsroom post and independent coverage on October 23, 2026, and we will update it as Meta shares more.
Key takeaways
- Your algorithm sits in the three-dot menu on Facebook posts. People use it to add and manage topics for Feed and Reels.
- Tapping Interested or Not interested can now trigger follow-up questions that people answer in their own words.
- Meta says typed input works alongside existing signals such as likes, comments and watch time. It does not replace them.
- Meta has not published rollout markets, languages, reach data or any effect on ads.
- Meta’s creators account says creators need take no action. The plan below is about staying clearly relevant, not about a trick.
What is Facebook’s “Your Algorithm”?
Quick answer: Your algorithm is a Facebook feature, announced by Meta on October 13, 2026, where people add and manage the topics they want to see in Feed and Reels. It sits in the three-dot menu on posts. Meta says recommendations respond in real time, using large language models to read what people write.
A ranking system is the software that decides which posts appear, and in what order, in someone’s Feed and Reels. Until now, Facebook’s ranking has worked mostly by inference. Meta says its systems infer interests from the posts people like and comment on and what they watch, among thousands of other signals. Your algorithm adds a stated interest on top of those signals. Meta describes the result as an algorithm you can “actually talk to.”
There are two parts. The first is a dedicated space for managing topics. The second is a feedback flow on individual posts: after someone taps Interested or Not interested, Facebook may ask a follow-up question and let them explain what they liked or disliked. TechCrunch notes the feature first launched on Instagram, and our Facebook AI updates explainer covers the wider push toward AI in the feed.
How do you find and use Your Algorithm on Facebook?
Quick answer: Open the three-dot menu on any post in Feed or Reels and choose Your algorithm. From there you can add topics you want to see more of and manage the ones Facebook already associates with you. You can also tap Interested or Not interested on a post and answer follow-up questions.
- Tap the three-dot menu on any post in Feed or Reels. Meta updated this menu on every post to make the new tools easier to find.
- Choose Your algorithm to open the dedicated space for topics.
- Review the topic list. Metricool reports that it summarises topics based on your recent activity and has separate interested and not-interested lists. Remove topics you no longer care about and add new ones.
- Answer follow-up questions. When you tap Interested or Not interested on a post, Facebook may ask for more detail. You can describe in your own words what you want more or less of.
Meta has not said when every account will receive the feature. If you do not see it yet, check again later, because menu wording may also change as the rollout continues.
How does it compare with Instagram’s Your Algorithm and Threads’ Dear Algo?
Quick answer: Facebook’s version combines two earlier Meta designs. Instagram’s Your Algorithm is a managed topic list, and Threads’ Dear Algo is a public post that changes a feed for three days. Facebook pairs a topic list with typed feedback collected through menus and prompts on posts.
| Threads: Dear Algo | Instagram: Your Algorithm | Facebook: Your algorithm | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How people ask | A public post that starts “Dear Algo” | Typing topics they want more or less of | Adding topics, or typed answers after Interested or Not interested |
| Where it lives | Any public Threads post | Icon at the top right of Reels or Explore, or Content preferences in Settings | The three-dot menu on every post |
| What it shapes | The Threads feed, for three days per request | Feed, Reels and Explore | Feed and Reels |
| Availability | US, UK, Australia and New Zealand at launch (Feb 11, 2026) | Global, in English (Feed, Reels and Explore since Jun 10, 2026) | Not specified by Meta |
Sources: Meta’s newsroom post, The Keyword and Unite.AI’s timeline of the Instagram rollout. For how Instagram’s version affects reach, see our Instagram algorithm 2026 guide.
What has Meta not said about Your Algorithm yet?
Quick answer: Meta’s announcement leaves practical questions open: which countries and languages get the feature, when the rollout finishes, whether ads are affected, and how long typed preferences last. Independent coverage from The Keyword and MLQ notes the same gaps. Until Meta answers, treat any firm claim about reach effects as speculation.
- Markets, languages and timing. No launch markets, supported languages or completion date are given.
- Ads. The announcement does not mention ads. The Keyword notes that ad delivery runs on separate systems.
- Data use. MLQ points out that Meta does not say whether typed preferences are used for AI training or ad personalization.
- Weight and persistence. Meta has not published how quickly the system changes, how long a preference lasts, or how much a written request counts against other signals.
- Controls. No opt-in prompt, off switch or return to a chronological feed is described.
Does Your Algorithm change organic reach for Pages and creators?
Quick answer: Meta has not published reach data. Its Facebook for Creators account says people finding your content are opting into topics like yours and that creators need take no action. What is clear is that stated interest now feeds the ranking that decides who sees organic posts, so topic clarity matters more.
What Meta says. On its Facebook for Creators page, Meta describes the audience as higher intent, says the algorithm gets better at matching work to the right people, and says nothing changes about how you create or post.
Our read (inference, not a Meta statement). Because typed topics sit beside behaviour, a Page with a clear subject is easier to match to what people ask for than a Page that posts on ten unrelated themes. A written Not interested reason is also a more specific negative signal than a post someone scrolls past, according to The Keyword. That makes off-topic and low-effort posts more costly than before.
This sits on top of changes Meta had already made. Sprout Social reports that Facebook has favoured personal content over branded posts since 2018, and that in March 2026 Meta said it would prioritise original content in Feed and Reels while reducing the reach of unoriginal content such as lightly edited reposts. If your reach is already slipping, start with our guide to why social media engagement is low.
Does Your Algorithm affect Facebook ads?
Quick answer: Meta’s announcement does not mention ads, and it has not said whether typed preferences influence ad delivery. The Keyword notes that ads run on separate systems. Keep your ad strategy as it is, record your current results, and watch Ads Manager for unusual shifts instead of assuming one.
What should brands and creators change on Facebook now?
Quick answer: Change less than you think and be clearer than before. Pick one to three core topics, say them plainly in your Page name, bio and first lines, publish original short video, and cut posts that do not fit. These steps keep your content easy to match when people type what they want to see.
- Name your core topics in plain words. Choose one to three topics your audience would actually type, such as “home workouts” or “vegan recipes”. Use those words in your Page name, About section and the first line of posts. Our guide to optimizing social content for AI search shows how to phrase topics the way people search.
- Audit your last 30 posts by topic. In Page Insights or Meta Business Suite, list each post with its topic and reach, then mark it keep or cut. Posts far from your core topics are the first to drop from your plan.
- Publish original content. Film natively, add your own view to trends, and avoid reposting other people’s clips with small edits. Sprout Social reports that Meta committed to reducing the reach of unoriginal content in March 2026.
- Lead with short video. Sprout Social’s 2026 Social Media Content Strategy Report finds that short-form video under 60 seconds is the top-performing brand content on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Say the topic in the first seconds. Our Reels vs Shorts vs TikTok algorithm comparison helps with format choices.
- Make the topic obvious in the first line. Viewers decide on Interested or Not interested in a moment. A clear opening gives them fair information and reduces mismatched viewers. Use our caption formulas for strong first lines.
- Reply to comments quickly. Meta lists posts people comment on among the signals it already uses. Sprout Social recommends replying within minutes where you can, which keeps the conversation going.
- Keep any outside growth activity audience-matched. This is our inference: if you add reach through an outside provider, favour gradual delivery and accounts that fit your niche, because accounts with no interest in your topic do not help a system that now reads stated interest. Read our reliable SMM panel guide and our advice on avoiding bans when using SMM panels first.
- Record a baseline and track weekly. Sprout Social’s formula is organic reach divided by total followers, times 100. Capture it now, then compare after four weeks. Tag links with UTMs, as shown in our UTM tracking guide, and use our social media ROI guide to connect reach to results.
| Post | Topic | Reach | Keep or cut |
|---|---|---|---|
| Example: 30-second how-to Reel | Home workouts | Fill in from Insights | Keep |
| Example: unrelated meme repost | None of your core topics | Fill in from Insights | Cut |
Use this layout for the 30-post audit in step 2. The rows above are examples, not data.
What does a 30-day plan look like?
Quick answer: Spend week one measuring, week two cleaning up your positioning, week three publishing focused original content, and week four comparing results to your baseline. Keep changes small so you can tell what worked. Meta has not published the effect of the feature, so results will vary by Page and niche.
| Week | Focus | Output |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baseline and audit | Reach rate for the last 30 posts, topic tags on each post, your one to three core topics |
| 2 | Clean-up and positioning | Updated Page name, About section and pinned post; a list of eight on-topic post ideas |
| 3 | Publish | Three to four original short videos plus text or photo posts on your core topics; comments answered quickly |
| 4 | Review | Reach rate compared with week one; keep the formats and topics that performed; a one-page summary |
What mistakes should you avoid?
- Rebuilding your strategy on one announcement. Meta’s own creators account says no action is needed. Make small, measurable changes. Our note on evergreen versus trending content can help you balance the two.
- Reposting other people’s content. Original content is where Meta says it is putting weight.
- Assuming ads changed. Nothing in the announcement says they did.
- Judging results in a few days. Sprout Social notes organic reach gains usually build over months, not days.
The bottom line
Your algorithm gives Facebook users a direct way to tell Feed and Reels what they want, and Meta says that input works alongside the behaviour signals it already uses. For brands and creators, the sensible response is not a new trick. It is clearer topics, original short video, a measured baseline and patience while Meta fills in the missing details.
If you are building a Page from scratch, start with our guide to building your brand on Facebook, and see how reach becomes customers in our social media growth funnel. Questions about your own Page? Contact our team.
Sources and how we checked
- Meta Newsroom, “Your Algorithm, Your Words” (October 13, 2026): about.fb.com
- TechCrunch, “Facebook is giving users more control over their algorithm” (October 13, 2026): techcrunch.com
- The Keyword, “Facebook Opens Feed and Reels Ranking to Typed Requests” (October 14, 2026): thekeyword.co
- MLQ, “Meta rolls out conversational algorithm controls” (October 14, 2026): mlq.ai
- Metricool, “Facebook Rolls Out Your Algorithm” (October 16, 2026): metricool.com
- Sprout Social, “Organic reach: What it is and how to improve it in 2026”: sproutsocial.com
- Facebook for Creators post on Your Algorithm (Meta, October 2026)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Your Algorithm on Facebook?
Your algorithm is a Facebook feature announced by Meta on October 13, 2026. It lets people add and manage the topics they want to see in Feed and Reels, and give written feedback after tapping Interested or Not interested. Meta says recommendations update in real time using large language models.
Where do I find Your Algorithm on Facebook?
Open the three-dot menu on a post in Feed or Reels and choose Your algorithm. Meta updated that menu on every post to make the tools easier to reach. Meta has not said when every account will receive the feature, so it may not appear for you yet.
When did Facebook launch Your Algorithm?
Meta announced Your algorithm for Facebook on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, saying it is rolling out. It follows Instagram’s version, which began on Reels in December 2025 and reached Feed, Reels and Explore globally in English in June 2026, and Threads’ Dear Algo in February 2026.
Is Your Algorithm available in my country?
Meta’s announcement does not list launch markets, languages or a completion date for Facebook. Instagram’s version is available globally in English, but that does not confirm Facebook’s coverage. Check the three-dot menu on a post, and watch Meta’s newsroom for updates if you do not see it.
How is it different from Instagram's Your Algorithm?
Instagram’s version centres on a list of topics you add or remove across Feed, Reels and Explore. Facebook’s adds typed, conversational follow-up questions after you tap Interested or Not interested, and covers Feed and Reels. Both let people state interests directly instead of relying only on behaviour.
Does Your Algorithm change organic reach for Pages and creators?
Meta has not published reach data. Its Facebook for Creators account says creators need take no action and that viewers are opting into topics like theirs. In practice, stated interest now sits beside behaviour in ranking, so clear topics and original content are the safest focus.
Does Your Algorithm affect Facebook ads?
Meta’s announcement does not mention ads. The Keyword notes that Facebook ad delivery runs on separate ads systems, and Meta has not said whether typed preferences influence it. Keep your ad strategy unchanged and monitor Ads Manager results rather than assuming a shift.
What happens when I tap Not interested now?
After you tap Not interested, Facebook may ask follow-up questions about what you disliked, and you can answer in your own words. Meta says recommendations then update in real time. For brands, a written reason can be a more specific negative signal than a quick scroll past.
Does Meta use my typed preferences for ads or AI training?
Meta’s announcement does not say. MLQ notes that Meta said in October 2025 that interactions with its AI features would personalize content and ads, but it is unclear whether text entered here is covered. Until Meta clarifies, avoid typing sensitive personal details into the feature.
What should brands and creators do differently?
Change less and be clearer: choose one to three core topics, state them plainly in your Page name and first lines, publish original short video, and review reach weekly against a baseline. Meta has not asked creators to change how they post, so avoid drastic strategy shifts.