You cannot change Facebook's algorithm directly, but you can train it to show different content

Facebook's algorithm decides what posts appear in your feed based on what you interact with — likes, comments, shares, clicks, and time spent watching. You cannot access or rewrite the algorithm itself. What you can do is change the signals you send to it by adjusting your settings, changing what you engage with, and telling Facebook which accounts and topics matter to you.

The fastest results come from using Facebook's built-in controls: the "See First" feature to prioritize certain friends, the "Unfollow" button to hide posts without unfriending, and the "Hide" option to block specific content types. These changes take effect when ready. Changing your interaction habits — what you like, comment on, and click — takes longer but produces deeper shifts in what the algorithm learns about your interests.

Key Takeaways

  • Use "See First" to tell Facebook which friends' posts should appear at the top of your feed, overriding the algorithm's ranking.
  • Click the three dots on any post and select "Hide" to remove that type of content without unfollowing the person or page.
  • Unfollow accounts whose posts you do not want to see, which hides their content but keeps you connected as a friend.
  • Adjust your Feed Preferences in Settings to reduce posts from suggested content, reels, and videos if those dominate your feed.
  • The algorithm learns from what you interact with, so liking, commenting on, and sharing different content gradually shifts what appears.

Use "See First" to prioritize specific friends and pages

"See First" is Facebook's tool to override the algorithm for accounts you choose. When you mark a friend or page as "See First," their posts appear near the top of your feed regardless of how much engagement they get. This is the most direct way to may support you see content from people who matter to you.

To set "See First" on a friend's profile, open their profile, tap the "Following" button, and select "See First." On a page, tap "Following" and choose "See First." You can mark up to 30 accounts as "See First." The algorithm still controls the order of everything else in your feed, but these accounts will always rank higher.

Hide posts and content types you do not want to see

The "Hide" option removes a specific post from your feed and tells the algorithm you do not want similar content. This is faster than unfollowing if you want to stay connected to someone but do not care about certain topics they post about.

Tap the three dots in the corner of any post and select "Hide post." Facebook will ask why — choose "I don't want to see this" or "It's not relevant to me." The algorithm records this feedback. If you see the same type of content repeatedly from one account, you can also select "Hide all posts from [person's name]," which works like unfollowing but keeps you as friends.

For broader content types, go to Settings, select "Feed Preferences," and choose "Suggested Posts," "Reels," or "Videos." You can reduce how often these appear without hiding them entirely. This does not remove them from your feed but tells the algorithm to show them less often.

Unfollow accounts without ending the friendship

Unfollowing removes someone's posts from your feed but keeps you connected as friends. They will not know you unfollowed them, and you can still message them or see their profile if you visit it directly.

Open the account's profile, tap "Following," and select "Unfollow." Their posts will stop appearing in your feed. If you change your mind later, go back to their profile and tap "Follow" to restore their posts. This is useful when you want to reduce clutter from accounts you care about but do not want to see daily.

Change your interaction habits to shift what the algorithm learns

The algorithm learns from your behavior over time. If you consistently like, comment on, and share posts about cooking, it will show you more cooking content. If you watch reels about fitness for longer than you watch other content, the algorithm prioritizes fitness reels.

To shift what you see, start engaging differently. Like and comment on posts about topics you want to see more of. Spend time watching videos in categories you prefer. Skip or scroll past content you do not want. Within a few days to a week, the algorithm will begin adjusting your feed. This is slower than using "Hide" or "See First," but it produces lasting change because the algorithm is learning your actual interests rather than just following your commands.

Avoid the trap of clicking on content just to hide it — each click tells the algorithm you are interested, even if you then hide the post. If you do not want to see a topic, scroll past it instead.

Adjust your Feed Preferences for broader control

Facebook's Feed Preferences menu lets you control several categories at once. Open Settings, tap "Feed Preferences," and you will see options to manage suggested posts, reels, videos, and other content types.

For each category, you can choose to see it "More" or "Less." Selecting "Less" tells the algorithm to reduce that content type in your feed without removing it entirely. This is useful if you want fewer reels but still see some, or if you want to reduce suggested posts from pages you do not follow. Changes take effect within a few hours.

Mute keywords and topics to filter your feed

If certain topics or keywords flood your feed and you want to see fewer posts about them, you can mute them. Open any post about that topic, tap the three dots, and select "See less of this." You can also mute keywords by going to Settings, selecting "Mute," and entering words or phrases you want to see less of.

Muting is different from hiding — it does not remove posts entirely but reduces how often they appear. This is helpful during events that generate a lot of posts you do not care about, or for topics that come up frequently but are not your interest. Muted keywords stay in effect until you remove them from your mute list.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Facebook know when I hide posts or use "See First"?

Facebook records your actions — hiding posts, using "See First," and unfollowing — as signals for the algorithm. The person or page you hide or unfollow will not receive a notification. However, Facebook uses this data to learn your preferences and adjust your feed.

How long does it take for changes to show up in my feed?

Using "See First," "Hide," or Feed Preferences changes take effect within hours. Changes from your interaction habits — liking different content, spending time on different topics — take several days to a week as the algorithm learns your new behavior. The more you engage with new content, the faster the shift.

Can I reset my feed to start over?

Facebook does not have a "reset feed" button. Your best option is to clear your interaction history by unliking old posts, unfollowing accounts you no longer want to see, and then engaging with new content you prefer. This gradually retrains the algorithm but takes time.

What if I want to see posts from a friend but not from a specific page they manage?

You cannot filter by page separately from a person's personal account. Your options are to unfollow the page directly, hide posts from that page, or use "See First" on the friend's personal account to prioritize their personal posts over page content.

Does using "See First" on many accounts slow down my feed?

No. "See First" straightforward changes the ranking order — it does not load more content or slow your phone. You can mark up to 30 accounts as "See First" without performance issues.