Facebook introduces AI tools for personalised recommendations
Facebook is introducing artificial intelligence controls that allow users to tell its recommendation system which subjects they want to see more or less often across Feed and Reels. The new feature, called Your Algorithm, allows people to enter their interests in ordinary language rather than relying solely on their viewing habits, reactions and comments to influence the content appearing on…
Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, has launched a new feature called "Your Algorithm" that gives users more control over the personalised recommendations they see on the platform. The feature, which is now available for testing, allows users to specify their interests using simple language rather than relying solely on their viewing habits, reactions and comments. This means that when a user wants to see more or less content about a particular subject, they can now tell the system exactly what they want.
The "Your Algorithm" controls are accessible through the three-dot menu that appears on Facebook posts, making it easier for users to find and use them while browsing. Once activated, users can add and manage topics they wish the platform to prioritise when selecting recommended posts and short videos. The new controls also enable users to provide more detailed feedback on individual posts and Reels, with the platform asking follow-up questions to better understand what aspects of the material they find appealing or objectionable.
This more conversational method of influencing recommendations is expected to help Facebook's ranking systems make finer distinctions between subjects, rather than interpreting every positive or negative reaction as a broad preference. Large language models, the technology behind many generative AI services, are being incorporated into the mechanisms that determine which content receives prominence.
By understanding the context and intention behind written instructions, the models can interpret the preferences of users more accurately.
While the new feature does not replace Facebook's automated ranking process, it introduces a direct channel through which people can correct or refine the system's assumptions about their interests. For example, if a user watches a video about a specific sport, they can now provide written instructions to help the system distinguish between that preference and general interest in other sports.
The company has not published independent performance results for the feature, but they claim that the adjustments should become visible without requiring users to leave Facebook and return later.
The new controls are intended to be easily discoverable, with the revised three-dot menu designed to make the features more accessible during browsing sessions. However, the article notes that it's unclear whether all users will receive the new options simultaneously or if there will be a way for users to switch off personalised recommendations entirely through "Your Algorithm".
The article also states that the feature's impact on advertising recommendations or the duration of individual instructions is not detailed, as the company has not provided specific information on these aspects.
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