Instagram Algorithm: How to Gain Visibility
Many creators are eager to uncover the mystery of Instagram’s algorithm. Two years ago, the social network shared some insights into how recommendations are ranked on its platform. However, in a blog post published this Wednesday, Instagram goes further by revealing new details about how its algorithms work. A distinct system is in place for each section of the app, including Reels, Stories, the Feed, and Explore. Here’s how these mechanisms operate!
The Algorithm for Reels
The Reels format is clearly inspired by TikTok, which is also reflected in its algorithm, showing similarities to that of the ByteDance app. Thus, unlike the logic of followed accounts, most Reels are selected based on your interests. Here are the factors taken into consideration:
- Activity: The algorithm analyzes your actions such as likes, saves, shares, and comments on videos to determine the content that might interest you.
- Interactions with the video creator: Instagram considers that if you have already interacted with a user, it is likely that you will be interested in their content, and therefore, it is more likely to be recommended to you.
- Reel information: If a Reel achieves general success, meaning it generates a lot of engagement and interaction, it will be favored and more widely distributed.
- Reel creator information: If the creator is popular, with a large number of followers and a high level of engagement, their content will be recommended more frequently.
In this way, Instagram adjusts its Reels algorithm to present the most relevant content based on your preferences and past interactions with video creators.
The algorithm for Stories.
You’ve probably noticed that it’s often the same users' Stories that are featured in your dedicated section. To rank them, Instagram follows a process that first removes Stories that violate community guidelines, then prioritizes the remaining ones based on the following criteria:
- Viewing history: If you've repeatedly viewed the Stories from a specific account, they will be prioritized in your feed.
- Engagement: The app also takes into account your level of engagement with a user's Stories, whether it's likes or direct messages (DMs). This can influence the ranking of that user's Stories in your feed.
- Proximity: Instagram tries to assess the degree of closeness between you and a user based on the relationship you have with them on the platform. This can include frequent interactions, message exchanges, or tags in posts.
By using these criteria, Instagram aims to personalize your experience by prioritizing the Stories of users with whom you have a strong affinity or closer relationship.
The algorithm for your Instagram feed
The main Instagram feed has evolved in recent years, placing more emphasis on recommendations. The platform strives to find a balance between the accounts you follow and the recommendations, as well as between different formats such as photos, carousels, and videos. To achieve this, the algorithm relies on "signals" defined based on your behaviors. Here are the most important ones:
- Your activity: Instagram tries to understand your preferences by analyzing the content you have liked, shared, commented on, or saved.
- The nature of the post: Just like with Reels, if a post gains significant popularity, it will be promoted. However, Instagram also takes into account more objective factors such as the posting date or location.
- Your relationship with the creator: If you interact with a creator directly (through likes, comments, or messaging), their posts will be recommended to you more frequently. However, Instagram ensures not to overwhelm you with content from the same user.
Instagram implements these criteria to personalize your experience and present posts that align with your interests, while maintaining diversity in the recommendations.
The Explore algorithm
As the name suggests, Instagram's Explore section is designed to help you discover new content. It is a space dedicated to recommendations, which is crucial for creators who want to expand their community. Here are the factors that the Explore algorithm takes into account:
- The information about the post: the most crucial criterion is the popularity of the post. Signals such as likes, shares, and comments are, according to Instagram, "much more important in Explore than in the feed or Stories."
- Your activity in Explore: the social network focuses on your interactions with the content posted in this specific section. It analyzes your behavior, likes, and comments to better understand your interests.
- The creator's popularity: once again, a popular creator on the platform will receive greater visibility on Explore. Instagram highlights creators with a large audience and high engagement.
Thanks to these criteria, Instagram personalizes the Explore section to present content that is likely to interest you, taking into account the popularity of posts, your activity in this section, and the popularity of creators. Do you want to gain more visibility on Instagram? Contact-us ! Our communication agency specializes in social media management.
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