Khaberni - In a move that reflects a fundamental shift in the philosophy of social networking, Instagram announced that its monthly active users have surpassed the 3 billion mark, coinciding with the launch of new settings that give users direct control over the content recommendation algorithms.
Owned by Meta Platforms, Instagram revealed that its monthly active users have reached more than 3 billion, recording one of the fastest growth rates in the history of digital platforms, an unprecedented achievement in the world of social networking.
Adam Mosseri, the head of the platform, explained that this exceptional growth was driven by the increasing reliance on direct messaging services and the short video feature (Reels), alongside a smart recommendation system that has become a central element in users' daily experiences.
But the most surprising announcement was Instagram's intention to allow users to customize algorithm settings that select suggested posts and videos for them, in a move aimed at enhancing user awareness and control over what they see within the app.
According to a report published by the German News Agency (DPA), the platform is preparing to launch a new settings page that will enable users to view Instagram’s assessment of their interests, with the ability to modify these by adding or removing topics of interest, giving them broader control over the nature of the content displayed to them.
Mosseri clarified that users will soon be able to access a dedicated page within the settings to see "what the platform thinks may interest them", with the ability to freely modify these choices.
In the initial phase, the new experience will be limited to the short video section (Reels), with plans to gradually expand it to include other sections of the app. Observers believe this step represents a strategic shift in the user's relationship with algorithms, which for many years has been a "black box" controlling what appears on the screen without clear explanation.
Mosseri noted that the era of automated guidance for social platform content is beginning to decline, with users increasingly desiring to customize their digital experiences and adjust algorithms themselves, rather than just following favorite accounts.
This development comes amidst fierce competition with other short video platforms, particularly TikTok, which faces an uncertain future in the United States with the potential sale of its operations to American investors, while Google-owned YouTube seeks to bolster its presence through the "Shorts" section.
“TikTok” heavily relies on a precise algorithm that tracks the duration of each video watched to determine the nature of videos shown subsequently, a method that Instagram is now trying to emulate, but with the unique addition of giving users unprecedented freedom in controlling their digital experience.
