Podcast Summary: Call Her Creator Ep. 120 — The Weekly Scroll: New Instagram Algorithm Controls + Edits Updates + Reels Recommendations

Host: Katelyn Rhoades
Date: January 22, 2026
Episode Theme:
A deep-dive into the latest Instagram updates and how shifts in the algorithm, content editing, and user controls will affect visibility, growth, and content strategy for creators — especially women building income and influence online.

Episode Overview

Katelyn Rhoades distills this week’s most important Instagram and social media updates, focusing on what truly matters for creators. Avoiding hype and reactionary advice, she lays out how the new features — particularly around Reels recommendations, the Edits app, and user algorithm controls — represent a major sea change in how Instagram values, distributes, and personalizes content. She offers actionable steps for creators to adapt, emphasizing intentionality, clarity, and connection over trendy or surface-level tactics.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Reels Algorithm Shift: From Passive Signals to Emotional Feedback

[02:00–12:30]

• What’s Changed?
  Instagram (Meta) is moving beyond just tracking likes, watch time, and shares. Now, it's relying heavily on direct user survey feedback (prompts like “Did you enjoy this?” or “Was this relevant to you?”).

  • Before: Algorithm aligned with user interest only ~48% of the time.
  • After integrating surveys: Alignment jumped to 70%+.
  • “That’s a pretty massive improvement if you ask me.” — Katelyn ([03:00])

• Why It Matters:

  • Content will be judged by how it makes viewers feel — enjoyment, relevance, and emotional response become key.
  • Less about slick, perfectly-edited content, more about genuine connection and clear messaging.
  • Meta is responding to TikTok’s dominance by using user feedback instead of visual recognition/A.I. alone.

  “Reels are no longer being judged by what people do, but how content makes people feel… The algorithm is paying closer attention to things like enjoyment, relevance, emotional response.”
  — Katelyn ([04:10])

• Actionable Guidance:

  • Make your content spark a real reaction; avoid being bland or neutral.
  • Hooks need to be niche and specific: “If they’re too passive, I’m making them rewrite them.” ([07:00])
  • Don’t chase perfectly ‘safe’ content. Neutral, polished content often gets neutral feedback and is deprioritized.
  • Analyze patterns: notice which formats/topics elicit positive responses and double down on them.
  • Focus on “reaction, not just reach.”

  “If your content is neutral, if it’s forgettable or overly polished, no point of view, it’s much easier for the system to just classify it as low interest.”
  — Katelyn ([08:30])

  • Upcoming Deep-Dive Alert: Next week, Katelyn will cover how to analyze what’s working and what patterns to watch for greater content success.

2. Instagram Edits App Update — Internal Linking & New Creator Tools

[12:40–20:40]

• Main Update:
  Instagram’s Edits app now lets you add internal links in clips (to other reels or IG accounts, not external sites).

  • “No, you’re not going to be able to link your website… but you can link other reels, you can link other Instagram accounts.” ([13:45])

• Why This Matters:

  • Create “mini content ecosystems” — link related posts, build series, drive viewers deeper into your own content.
  • Supports cross-promotion, collaboration, content chains.
  • Edits aims to become a full creator hub, not just an editing tool.
  • Anticipated that Edits may become paid (so adopt early!).

• Additional Features:

  • Weekly content ideas based on your history & audience — “data disguised as ideas.”
  • 25 new video effects (e.g., Fisheye, Bounce, Blackout).
  • Storyboard upgrades: add multiple takes for clips to compare best versions.

• Tactical Tips:

  • Use internal linking strategically (not randomly); link follow-ups, deeper-dives, or collaborative content for greater watch time and engagement.
  • Treat Instagram’s weekly content ideas as data-driven signals to inform, not command, your strategy.
  • Be intentional with visual effects.

  “Just because you add an effect… does not mean engagement. Some can distract or make it look overly edited.”
  — Katelyn ([19:50])

  • Instagram is not just competing on “virality” (a la TikTok) but on creator workflow and platform stickiness.

3. User Algorithm Controls — More Personalization, More Creator Clarity Needed

[20:55–31:15]

• What’s New:
  “Your Algorithm Control” is now live for all English-speaking users. You can:

  • Add/remove interest topics for your Reels feed.
  • See content examples for each topic.
  • Select top three interests to guide your feed ([21:30]).

• Why This is Big:

  • Users can send explicit signals about content they want, not just passive watch data.
  • The algorithm combines user-stated preferences with engagement data for recommendations.

  “Instagram is giving users the ability to tell the algorithm what they want more of.”
  — Katelyn ([22:05])

• Impact for Creators:

  • Topic clarity is crucial: The clearer your focus, the easier for the system (and users) to slot you into interest buckets.
  • “If your content is vague or scattershot… it’s harder for the system to place you into an interest bucket.” ([23:30])

  “Your audience should be able to describe what you talk about in one sentence. Clear doesn’t mean boring, it just means recognizable.”
  — Katelyn ([25:10])

  • Don’t hyper-niche to the point of being restrictive; just be easily identifiable.
  • AI and post summaries now further categorize your content — if captions or messaging are unclear, you risk mislabeling.
  • Quality engagement (from users who select and consistently engage with your topics) now signals stronger relevance to the algorithm.

• Psychological Layer:

  • This feature builds user trust and cuts “algorithm fatigue” by giving audiences a sense of control over their feeds.

  “Even if [users] don’t use it daily, it builds that trust in the platform and reduces algorithm fatigue…”
  — Katelyn ([26:20])

  • The ultimate winners will be those with intentional messaging, consistent themes, and clear value.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On algorithmic change:
  “The future of reels is not about hacking the algorithm. It’s just about creating content that people actually enjoy.”
  — Katelyn ([11:50])

• On neutrality vs. connection:
  “Neutral feedback tells the algorithm that your reel is not worth prioritizing.”
  — Katelyn ([09:30])

• On internal linking and series:
  “If someone watches one reel and taps into another, that’s deeper session behavior… This is especially powerful for series content, education, and storytelling arcs.”
  — Katelyn ([17:20])

• On AI-driven categorization:
  “I’ve already seen it happen with my own content and I am a, you know, Instagram expert… So it is very important that you are specific with your content.”
  — Katelyn ([27:30])

Action Steps and Takeaways

• Make Reels with emotion and clarity: Write strong hooks; target specific feelings or reactions; avoid “safe” or generic posts.
• Leverage internal links: Connect content into series, guide viewers deeper, use for collaborations or multi-account strategies.
• Treat new “idea” prompts as analytics: Let Instagram’s recommendations inform what’s working for your audience.
• Adopt Edits’ new creator workflow: Try new features, but edit intentionally (avoid over-the-top effects).
• Prioritize topic clarity: Make content so focused that users — and Instagram’s AI — instantly know what you’re about.
• Engagement quality > viral reach: When people genuinely engage with focused content, the algorithm takes the strongest cue.

Upcoming Content and Call to Action

• Next Episode: A full breakdown on analyzing your own content patterns and what to do after Katelyn’s 28-day engagement challenge.
  “We are doing a huge episode on analyzing your content and what to do next after you’ve gone through my 28 day engagement challenge.” ([32:25])

• Follow and connect:

  • Instagram: @callhercreator
  • DM questions to Katelyn via either @callhercreator or @kaitlynrhoades

Summary Table of Updates

| Segment | Timestamp | Main Takeaway | |--------------------------|-----------|----------------------------------------------------| | Reels Algorithm | 02:00–12:30 | Feedback-based recommendations and emotional content wins | | Edits App Update | 12:40–20:40 | Internal Links in reels, creator workflow upgrades | | Algorithm Controls | 20:55–31:15 | Users can now guide their feed via stated topics; clarity is critical |

For creators who want to maximize Instagram’s evolving tools in 2026: focus on specificity, intentional engagement, and building connections through clear, emotionally resonant content.