TikTok launches new tools to let users control their 'For You' feed
The updates include three main tools—Manage Topics, Smart Keyword Filtering, and an educational guide—all aimed at helping users discover content that fits their interests and avoid what they don’t want to see.
TikTok has introduced a set of new features designed to give users more control over their 'For You' feed, as part of its efforts to improve personalisation and help users manage the kind of content they see.
The updates include three main tools—Manage Topics, Smart Keyword Filtering, and an educational guide—all aimed at helping users discover content that fits their interests and avoid what they don’t want to see.
"The ‘For You’ feed is what makes TikTok a place like no other to discover your favorite new interests or grow a thriving community. With our new features, you can manage topics you want to see in your ‘For You’ feed and limit keywords and hashtags you'd rather skip, so that it's easier than ever to find creators, hobbies, and content you love," said Adam Presser, TikTok’s Head of Operations & Trust & Safety.
The new Manage Topics feature allows users to decide how often they see content from over 10 different categories such as Travel, Nature, Creative Arts, and Sports.
Instead of removing topics completely, this tool adjusts how frequently they appear, so that users can better match their feeds with their changing interests.
The Smart Keyword Filter builds on TikTok’s current filters by adding the ability to block related terms and synonyms.
Users can now also increase their keyword limit from 100 to 200, allowing for broader filtering and more control.
According to TikTok, keyword filters have already been used more than 190 million times globally to help people avoid unwanted content.
To support these tools, TikTok is also introducing an educational guide that explains how the ‘For You’ feed works.
The guide will include tips, tools, and videos to help users make the most of the new features.
Some of these videos have already been viewed over 180 million times across the world.
The new features are available to both teen and adult accounts and come with safety measures that include restrictions on inappropriate or mature content, the option to refresh the feed, mark content as "not interested," and turn on Restricted Mode.
The platform also uses tools to limit how often users see certain types of content that may be harmful if viewed too often.
With these changes, TikTok says it wants to help users “explore, learn and discover content and creators they love”—while also making the experience safer and more thoughtful for everyone.
