TikTok’s new ‘Manage Topics’ tool gives you more control over your For You feed, here’s how to use it

TikTok is revolutionizing the way you experience content with its newly launched “Manage Topics” feature, a powerful tool that puts you in control of your For You feed like never before. Announced on Friday, this feature is gradually being rolled out to users across the U.S., offering a more personalized and streamlined viewing experience.

What is the ‘Manage Topics’ Feature?

At its core, the “Manage Topics” tool is designed to give you the reins over what appears on your For You feed. No longer are you at the mercy of a mysterious algorithm; now, you can directly influence the type of content that populates your feed. Whether you’re passionate about sports, curious about current affairs, or in search of the latest food trends, this tool allows you to tailor your TikTok experience to your specific interests.

How to Access and Use the Feature

Accessing this new feature is a breeze. Start by navigating to your Settings, then select Content Preferences. Here, you’ll find the new Manage Topics option. This is where the magic happens. You’ll be presented with a list of topics, ranging from humor and travel to dance and creative arts. For each topic, a slider allows you to indicate whether you want to see more or less of that content in your feed.

But what if you’re unsure about what kind of videos fall under a particular category? TikTok has thought of that too. Simply click the information button next to any topic to see a detailed description. For example, selecting “Creative Arts” will show you content related to painting, drawing, graphic design, and art tutorials. This helps you make more informed decisions about what you want to appear on your feed.

How Your Selections Affect Your Feed

Once you’ve customized your topics, TikTok will start adjusting your For You feed accordingly. However, keep in mind that these changes won’t be instantaneous. The app needs some time to process your preferences and personalize your feed based on your selections. Importantly, this tool only affects the content you see on your For You feed and won’t interfere with the posts from accounts you follow.

A Step Beyond Previous Customization Options

TikTok has offered customization tools before, such as the ability to refresh your For You feed to retrain the algorithm or manually filter out specific keywords and hashtags. However, the “Manage Topics” feature takes customization to a whole new level. Rather than resetting your feed entirely, you can now take a more targeted approach, honing in on exactly what you want to see—and what you’d rather avoid.

This feature also simplifies the process of refining your feed. While you could previously hold down on a video to mark it as “Not Interested,” this method was somewhat time-consuming and reactive. Now, you can be proactive, going directly into your settings to prevent certain types of content from appearing in the first place.

Final Thoughts

With the introduction of the “Manage Topics” tool, TikTok is empowering its users with unprecedented control over their content consumption. Whether you’re looking to deepen your engagement with favorite topics or to cleanse your feed of unwanted content, this feature is a game-changer. It’s a thoughtful evolution that makes the TikTok experience more tailored and enjoyable.

So, dive into your settings and start curating your For You feed today. The power to shape your TikTok journey is now at your fingertips.