Facebook’s New ‘Your Algorithm’ Feature: What UK Businesses Should Know

niche-content

Oct 26

4 min read

Facebook is giving people more direct ways to shape what appears in their Feed and Reels. On 13 October 2026, Meta announced a feature called “Your algorithm”, alongside new ways for users to explain what they want to see more or less of. For UK small businesses that rely on Facebook and short-form video, the useful response is not to panic about the algorithm. It is to make each post clearer, more relevant and more valuable to the people it is meant to reach.

The change was announced by Meta on 13 October 2026. Read Meta’s official announcement for the platform’s description of the new controls.

What has changed on Facebook?

Meta says it is rolling out “Your algorithm”, a place where people can add and manage topics they want to see in Feed and Reels. The controls can be accessed through the three-dot menu on posts.

Facebook is also expanding its “Interested” and “Not interested” feedback. In some cases, it may ask a follow-up question so people can describe their preference in their own words. Meta says its recommendation systems can use this feedback to adapt what they show, in real time.

The company says large language models help interpret the context and intent in people’s written preferences alongside existing signals, such as what they watch, like and comment on. This is a change to how people can personalise recommendations; it is not a new setting that business pages can use to choose their audience.

What does this mean for UK small businesses?

The important distinction is that Meta has announced more user control over recommendations, not a blanket rule that business pages or Reels will automatically receive less reach. The announcement does not promise higher reach for particular formats, nor does it say every UK account has the feature already.

Meta describes the feature as rolling out but does not give a country-by-country timetable in its announcement. TechCrunch’s coverage also notes that the rollout details were not specified. Treat availability as account-dependent and focus on the parts of your content strategy you can control.

Five practical steps to make your videos more relevant

1. Make the subject obvious straight away

Open with the question, product, problem or result the video is about. A local bakery could start with “How we make our sourdough every morning” rather than a general montage with no explanation. Add concise on-screen text and captions so viewers can understand the subject even when their phone is muted.

2. Build a few recognisable content themes

Choose three or four themes that genuinely reflect your business and customers’ interests. A café might rotate between menu highlights, behind-the-scenes preparation, answers to customer questions and local collaborations. A professional service could share practical advice, explain common mistakes, introduce its team and answer frequently asked questions. The aim is a recognisable subject focus, not posting the same thing repeatedly.

3. Make each video useful on its own

People may discover a Reel without having seen anything you posted before. Avoid openings such as “Here’s part four” unless the context is immediately clear. Tell viewers what they will learn or see, deliver that value, and then offer a sensible next step if one is useful.

4. Show your real business, not just trends

Use original footage of your people, process, products, premises and customers where you have permission. A trend can provide a creative starting point, but it should make sense for your audience and brand. Specific, real examples help people understand what you do and why it may be relevant to them.

5. Measure meaningful results over time

Look beyond views alone. Depending on your goal, review watch time, completion or retention, shares, saves, comments, profile visits, website clicks and enquiries. Compare similar videos over several weeks and change one element at a time, such as the opening line or subject. A single strong or weak post is not enough to prove that the platform has changed your reach.

A practical example: a Liverpool café

Imagine a café wants to attract more local people for weekend brunch. It could make a short series with one clear purpose: help viewers decide whether the café is right for their next visit. One video could show a signature dish being prepared, another could introduce the team, and a third could show the atmosphere at a typical brunch service. Each video should identify the subject early, use readable captions and finish with a natural invitation to view the menu or check opening times.

This plan does not guarantee that Facebook will recommend every video. It gives each post a clear audience and purpose, making it easier for the right viewers to understand the content and decide whether it interests them.

What if you cannot see “Your algorithm” yet?

Because Meta has described this as a rollout and has not published a country-by-country timetable, do not assume that the option will appear on every UK account at the same time. You can check the three-dot menu on Facebook posts, but you do not need to wait for the feature to appear before improving your content. The practical steps above are useful regardless of whether your account currently has the new controls.

The takeaway

Facebook’s new controls underline the importance of relevance: people are being given more ways to tell the platform what they want to see. Small businesses cannot choose those preferences for their audience, but they can make their own videos clearer, more useful and more closely aligned with customers’ real interests. Start with a specific topic, show something genuinely helpful and use your results to learn what your audience responds to.

If you want help turning your products, services or expertise into engaging business video, Niche Content creates promotional and social media videos for businesses in Liverpool and Merseyside. Get in touch to discuss a video that fits your business and audience.

Sources

Meta, 13 October 2026: “Your Algorithm, Your Words: New Ways to Shape What You See on Facebook”.

TechCrunch, 13 October 2026: “Facebook is giving users more control over their algorithm”.