Meta’s social platform Threads has announced a new AI feature designed to give users more precise control over their feed content. Called “Dear Algo,” this feature allows users to communicate with the algorithm using natural language, temporarily adjusting the amount of certain content types in their feed to further enhance the personalized experience.
Threads will introduce new AI features「Dear Algo」, allowing users to personalize their information feeds
The new AI feature is quite intuitive to use: simply start a public Threads post with “Dear Algo” followed by a description of the content you want to see more or less of. For example, if you’ve recently become obsessed with a popular podcast, just post “Dear Algo, please show me more content about podcasts,” and Threads’ algorithm will adjust your feed over the next three days to surface more relevant posts.
This method of using public posts as commands allows users to directly “converse” with the algorithm, giving Threads a differentiated advantage in the social media competition. In contrast, while other platforms also offer buttons like “not interested,” they can mostly only fine-tune content, unable to proactively and explicitly tell the system what you want like Threads does.
Meta said in an official blog postThreads positions itself as “the place to stay on top of what’s trending now.” However, users’ interests often shift rapidly with context — for example, when watching an NBA live stream, they want to see more game discussions, or they want to avoid spoilers for shows they haven’t finished yet. The “For You” algorithm is designed to make the feed more responsive to these short-term needs in real-time. This feature also strengthens Threads’ real-time nature, which has long been a core advantage of its competitor X. Now, Threads is attempting to make a breakthrough in this area through more flexible algorithmic interaction.
Dear Algo is currently being rolled out first in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand, with Meta stating it will gradually expand to more countries in the future. The timing of this feature’s launch is also quite noteworthy, as it comes right after market research firm Similarweb According to its latest report, Threads’ mobile daily active users (DAU) have officially surpassed X. Similarweb’s data shows that as of January 7, 2026, Threads had 141.5 million daily active users on iOS and Android devices, while X’s mobile DAU was 125 million. Although X still leads on web, Threads’ growth rate on mobile is significantly faster, showing it has gradually gained a foothold among younger demographics and mobile users.
In this context, launching Dear Algo not only strengthens Threads’ product differentiation but also helps attract more users who want control over their feed content. For Meta, this represents a pivotal moment to boost platform stickiness and improve user satisfaction.
With social platforms becoming increasingly competitive, algorithm transparency and control over personalization have grown into key concerns for users. Threads’ Dear Algo feature is, in a sense, a response to this demand: rather than simply letting users tap “not interested,” it enables them to actively tell the algorithm “what I want to see right now.” This more direct, human-centered approach could point toward a new direction for social platform algorithms. For users, this means the feed is no longer something passively received—it can be adjusted to fit their evolving rhythms and interests. For Threads, it’s a significant step toward strengthening its platform identity and competitive edge.
Source: KOCPC Chinese