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Ever wondered exactly why an algorithm targets you? Instagram just launched a button to tell you... Here is how to find it (and why it matters)

People and behaviour1 min readSam Page

If you go to your Reels on Instagram, you’ll see an icon top right corner.

Click it and you’ll get an insight into the algorithm that defines what you see.

You can also edit topics, and add new ones in for the year ahead.

Mines heavily influenced by speciality baking, Scottish eats and artisanal loaves at the moment.

I’ve been helping my friend James Chapman launch his new GF bakery in Edinburgh, Confelicity Bakery.

I’m impressed by how often the algorithm changes, and although this isn’t the full algorithm, it’s definitely a step in the right direction.

Why have Instagram done this?

Because in a world full of AI noise, transparency is critical. As a result, it’s one of their big pushes at the moment.

People are tired of “black box” technology. We want to understand the logic behind the tech. And when we do, we trust it more.

Transparency builds trust. Trust drives growth.

I think LinkedIn could learn a lot from this… something many of us have been crying out for, for a long time.

What’s in your Instagram algorithm? Anything surprising?

First posted on LinkedIn and sam-page.com.

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GEThttps://sam-page.com/thinking/ever-wondered-exactly-why-an-algorithm-targets-you-instagram-just-launched-a-but.mdtext/markdown; charset=utf-8

---
title: "Ever wondered exactly why an algorithm targets you?  Instagram just launched a button to tell you...  Here is how to find it (and why it matters)"
url: https://sam-page.com/thinking/ever-wondered-exactly-why-an-algorithm-targets-you-instagram-just-launched-a-but
date: 2026-01-27
author: Sam Page
type: Post or article
categories: [People and behaviour]
reading_time: 1 min
summary: "If you go to your Reels on Instagram, you’ll see an icon top right corner."
first_published: https://sam-page.com/2026/01/27/ever-wondered-exactly-why-an-algorithm-targets-youinstagram-just-launched-a-button-to-tell-you-here-is-how-to-find-it-and-why-it-matters/
---

# Ever wondered exactly why an algorithm targets you?  Instagram just launched a button to tell you...  Here is how to find it (and why it matters)

If you go to your Reels on [Instagram](https://www.linkedin.com/company/instagram/), you’ll see an icon top right corner.

![](https://sam-page.com/img/thinking/ever-wondered-exactly-why-an-algorithm-targets-you-instagram-just-laun-li1.webp)

Click it and you’ll get an insight into the algorithm that defines what you see.

You can also edit topics, and add new ones in for the year ahead.

Mines heavily influenced by speciality baking, Scottish eats and artisanal loaves at the moment.

I’ve been helping my friend [James Chapman](https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-chapman-13b68525/) launch his new GF bakery in Edinburgh, Confelicity Bakery.

I’m impressed by how often the algorithm changes, and although this isn’t the full algorithm, it’s definitely a step in the right direction.

Why have Instagram done this?

Because in a world full of AI noise, transparency is critical.
As a result, it’s one of their big pushes at the moment.

People are tired of “black box” technology. We want to understand the logic behind the tech. And when we do, we trust it more.

Transparency builds trust. Trust drives growth.

I think [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/linkedin/) could learn a lot from this… something many of us have been crying out for, for a long time.

What’s in your Instagram algorithm? Anything surprising?