Instagram users upload millions of photos and videos to the platform each day – so how does Instagram choose what to show you? The secret lies in the Instagram algorithm.
What Is the Instagram Algorithm?
The Instagram algorithm is a complex system used to decide what content to show on users’ feeds. Its goal is to show users content they will find most relevant and engaging.
The IG algorithm considers various ranking factors aimed at keeping users on the app longer and increasing overall engagement, including the followings:
- Interest: The algorithm analyzes each user’s behaviors, such as the posts they engage with, to show similar content that aligns with their interests.
- Timeliness: Recent posts are given higher priority, so newer content is more likely to be seen by users.
- Relationship: The algorithm takes into account the users with whom you interact or the accounts you follow or engage with.
- Frequency: If you open the app frequently, IG will show you the best content since your last visit.
- Usage: The amount of time spent on the app during each session can influence the content displayed.
Instagram uses different algorithms across each of its features: Feed Posts, Stories, and Reels.
Recent Instagram Algorithm Changes
Instagram officially announced some key algorithm changes earlier this year:
New IG Content
Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri shared in one IG Reel that they want to help people discover more of what they love, hence prioritizing new content every time users open the IG app. This is good news for brands, as it means your content is more likely to go beyond your own audience and inspire more people.
Photos Over Videos
IG videos or Reels were growing popular in the last 2 years, but the game is changing: IG has announced it “over-indexed” on videos and is now showing more favor to photos. It’s estimated that the algorithm will prioritize photos and videos 50/50 for a more balanced proportion of each format.
Learn More:
3 Outdated Instagram Tips: Revealing Your Age by Still Employing Them!
How the Instagram Algorithm Ranks Feed, Stories, Explore, & Reels
Each of Instagram’s main features offers unique experiences for users. For a more enjoyable browsing experience, IG will take into account below:
IG Feed Posts, Stories & Explore Page
While IG users’ Feed Content is most likely coming from family and friends, as well as accounts they follow, the algorithm is still in play considering:
- Post information. How many likes and comments does the post have? When was it posted? How long is the content?
- Relationship. What’s the importance of the content creator to the user? Is it from someone whose content you’ve frequently interacted with?
- User engagement. What types of posts have you engaged with in the past?
- User interaction history. Is this post from someone you’ve recently interacted with? How often do you comment on the user’s posts?
Instagram Reels
IG Reels are short-form videos that are meant to entertain, so Instagram prioritizes content that is funny, inspirational, or otherwise mind-blowing. User engagement (e.g., likes, shares), the popularity of the person who posted it, and the content itself (e.g., the audio or music it uses) can all affect its attraction to algorithms.
This article is originally published by Meltwater:
Meltwater provides social and media intelligence. By examining millions of posts each day from social media platforms, blogs, and news sites, Meltwater helps companies make better, more informed decisions based on insight from the outside. Learn more at meltwater.com.
