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In an effort to provide more clarity around its product, Instagram released an article providing a few more details into how its algorithm works.

In fact, Insta wants you to know that there isn’t even one all-powerful “algorithm” but several “algorithms, classifiers, and processes” that work together to determine what is shown in a feed (as well as what posts are highlighted in the Explore and Reels sections, too).

Here are some of the main points shared by IG in their post.

Factors used to rank Feed and Stories:

• Who you follow – This is the primary determining factor for Feed visibility.

• Post information – including popularity signals (likes, comments, shares, saves), when it was posted, how long the video is, and even the location tag.

• Poster information – including how interested a follower might be in that person’s content, and “how many times people have interacted with that person in the past few weeks.”

• User activity – which Insta uses to predict what you want to see.

• History of interaction between poster and follower – such as whether or not you comment on each others’ posts.

• User settings – IG recommends a series of steps that you can use to influence your own feed, including picking Close Friends, muting, and marking posts as “Not Interested.”

Other interesting points:

The post details how other sections of the app work as well.

For example, the Explore tab uses many of the same signals but focuses on showing you content from those you aren’t following—but that Instagram thinks you will be interested in based on your engagement history and who you follow. As explained in Social Media Today, this is also where hashtags can help boost your reach, “by getting your account in front of people searching for certain topics.”

On the other hand, the Reels section (which is kind of like TikTok) “is designed to entertain you” so its algorithms focus on predicting entertainment value. IG says it takes into account “how likely you are to watch a reel all the way through, like it, say it was entertaining or funny, and go to the audio page (a proxy for whether or not you might be inspired to make your own reel.)” The processes are also informed by user feedback to help better predict humor or other entertainment value.

Why it matters

The points above should be studied by anyone who wants to improve their success on Instagram, particularly if you feel you could be seeing more results in a certain section of the app such as Reels or the Explore tab.

To go further on this subject, check out the latest Instagram Insider “zine” which focuses on empowering Creators to get more success on the platform. The PDF contains tips and stories from influencers who have used winning strategies themselves.

Related Social Media News

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Here are a few more shareworthy items we’ve been reading this month…

Channel Updates & News:

• Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg hosts first test of Live Audio Rooms in US (TechCrunch)

• Twitter Will Now Let Spaces Hosts Download an Audio File of Their Space (Social Media Today)

• Facebook Tests Public Comments Display on Facebook Stories (Social Media Today)

• Podcasts start coming to Facebook next week (The Verge)

• Twitter Moves Closer to Launching Emoji-Style Reactions on Tweets (Social Media Today)

• #CreateKindness anti-bullying campaign on TikTok (TikTok newsroom)

• Twitter brings Revue newsletter subscriptions right into user profiles (Mashable)

• Sponsored Chat Themes on Messenger (FB Messenger news)

• Facebook Delays Taking a Cut on Paid Events and Fan Subscriptions till 2023 (Social Media Today)

• Instagram launches a new section for shopping product drops (TechCrunch)

• Twitter launching local weather service for $10 per month (Fortune)

• Meet the New Clubhouse App Icon (Clubhouse blog)

Stories & Analysis

• Are We Entering a New Phase for Social Media Regulation? (Social Media Today)

• FB Topics to Watch for Q1 2021 (Facebook News)

• Facebook plans first smartwatch for next summer with two cameras, heart rate monitor (The Verge)

• The future of AR/VR (Facebook PDF report)

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