Meta launched an AI feature called "Dear Algo" for Threads users on Wednesday. The tool lets people directly influence their content recommendations through public posts.
Threads users can now type "Dear Algo" followed by specific requests about what they want to see more or less of in their feed. The platform's AI systems interpret these requests and adjust content delivery for the next three days.
Meta rolled out Dear Algo initially in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. The company says it plans to expand the feature to more countries soon.
The feature transforms algorithm tuning into a visible, interactive experience. Instead of relying only on automatic ranking, users can publish posts beginning with "Dear Algo" to explain their content preferences.
Once a user shares a request, Dear Algo adjusts their feed for three days to keep them connected to current conversations. Users can also repost someone else's Dear Algo request to apply those content preferences to their own feed.
Threads now has more than 400 million monthly active users. On its latest earnings call, Meta said time spent on the platform jumped 20% in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Meta positions Dear Algo as a way to keep Threads aligned with real-time interests. The feature allows temporary control over feed content without permanently altering overall preferences.
The mechanism works similarly to how people use text prompts with chatbots like OpenAI's ChatGPT. Users write natural language requests that the AI interprets to adjust content recommendations.
Meta last month told investors it plans to spend between $115 billion and $135 billion this year on AI-related capital expenditures. This represents nearly double last year's budget for artificial intelligence development, following other Meta AI initiatives.
"Current recommendation systems are primitive compared to what will be possible soon."
CEO Mark Zuckerberg added that instead of apps that feel like algorithms recommending content, users will open Meta's platforms to find "an AI that understands you."
The Dear Algo feature was inspired by users who started posting "dear threads algo" requests as a meme. People had been complaining about Threads' recommendation algorithm since the platform's launch in July 2023.
Threads launched as a competitor to X (formerly Twitter) and has grown to 400 million monthly active users. The platform began rolling out advertising globally last month.
Meta also released AI features for Facebook this week that let users animate profile photos and alter images with the Meta AI digital assistant. The company added animated avatars, photo styling tools, and dynamic backgrounds for text posts.
Connor Hayes, Meta's Head of Threads, said Threads will reject queries that don't meet the company's recommendation guidelines or content principles.
The feature provides temporary adjustments rather than permanent changes to user preferences.
By limiting changes to a three-day window, Threads maintains stability in its recommendation system while offering flexibility for immediate interests, addressing concerns similar to those raised in the EU's regulatory actions on social media features. The public format of Dear Algo posts makes personalization open and shareable across the platform.
Meta's broader strategy involves integrating large language models directly into its recommendation and advertising infrastructure. The company plans to debut and test new AI products throughout 2026 as it continues investing in data center and computing infrastructure.
Threads surpassed X in daily mobile usage according to analytics firm Similarweb. Despite this progress, Threads' daily active user count remains a small share of Meta's overall footprint across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
The platform crossed 400 million monthly active users in August, marking substantial growth from earlier figures of around 150 million in early 2024 and 275 million later that year. Meta reported these numbers during its latest earnings call.
With advertising now rolled out globally on Threads and Dear Algo inviting explicit user input, Meta gains richer insight into user preferences. The company can use this data to refine both content recommendations and targeted advertising across its platforms.
Meta spokesperson Alec Booker told The Verge that the company will continue iterating based on community feedback before rolling Dear Algo out more broadly. The feature follows a limited test with selected users late last year.
