Threads is trying out a new way to help users tailor the feed algorithm to their interests, by posting to “Best Algo” and then adding a comment about what they want to see more or less of in the app.
As you can see in there this exampleposted by Threads chief Connor HayesTo update your Threads algorithm in-stream, you can type “Best algo” at the beginning of your post and then submit a conversation question to update your registered interests.
Even if it’s just a temporary update. As explained by Hayes:
“When people add ‘Dear Algo’ to a post, it tells your feed what you want to see more or less of for up to three days.”
So it won’t completely change your feed, but it will temporarily refine what’s showing, to show you more of what you like. And then as you engage with that content, it can become a more permanent shift, depending on how much of it you consume, and how the algorithm registers that interest, etc.
Your ‘Best algo’ posts themselves, meanwhile, are real posts and not DMs or disappearing posts, so they’ll be visible on your timeline and to your followers.
“If your profile is public, people can see your request, contact you about it, or repost it.”
So you also tell the world what you want to see more or less of, which might be worth mentioning depending on your specific interests.
Threads is only testing the process with a select group of users for now, but wants to expand the rollout to more users over time.
AI-powered algorithm refinement is becoming something of a trend in social media apps, with YouTube launching a similar test last week, while X is also using its Grok chatbot to help users refine their interests.
Instagram is also trying out more in the meantime special list of topics so you can update your feed preferences. This is different from the conversational chatbot approach, but has a similar customization option.
In the case of Threads, it has been testing this for a while, with an early version of this spotted during testing in September.
So some work has already gone into building this functionality, with this live test building on the initial learnings, with the intention of providing a simple way to explicitly tell the algorithm what you want to see.
And if it works, it can have major benefits. Many social media users regularly complain about algorithms ruining their experience, and soon they may have a way to address this on the spot, reducing the need for anxiety or complaints.
That could add practical value, although in reality I think the real value of these types of tools is more theoretical.
Because while people love to complain and criticize “the algorithm,” and the social media overlords who decide what to see in each app, in reality people generally don’t care when given the option to manually change or update these things.
This has always been the case, with few people actually using data privacy and algorithm controls where they can, despite this being repeatedly raised as an issue. Because once people have that control option they feel more confident, but what most people really want, especially in a post-TikTok world, is to log in and have the algorithm show them a selection of posts they’re likely to like.
The real value here may well lie in its existence, as opposed to its usefulness. But that in itself makes it a valuable experiment.
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