Instagram’s algorithm is a mystery to many users. But the platform is now giving more insight behind the scenes. So how does the Instagram algorithm work for your feed?
There are “a lot of misconceptions” about how Instagram works, writes CEO Adam Mosseri in a blog post. That’s why the company wants to “give people a better overview of how Instagram works”.
But how does the Instagram algorithm really work and how does the platform decide what users are shown? We show you how the meta subsidiary decides what ends up in your feed.
Instagram and its algorithms
According to Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri, there is no such thing as “one algorithm”. Rather, a wide variety of algorithms, classifications and processes would decide what ultimately reaches the user.
Our goal is to offer people meaningful, valuable experiences on our platform.
In order to maintain these “meaningful, valuable experiences” for users, Instagram uses technology-based personalisation, he said.
Feed: How does the Instagram algorithm work?
Each section of the platform has its own algorithm. This is based on how users use the individual areas, such as the feed, Stories or Reels.
This is how Instagram composes your feed
Your homepage in the Instagram app is made up of three different categories
- Content from accounts you follow
- Recommended content from accounts you might like
- Ads
In the feed, the Instagram algorithm takes into account which accounts you follow and which content you have “liked”. What’s new here is that the respective format is also included. So if you primarily like photos, you will also see more of them.
According to Mosseri, Instagram works with “fact-based assumptions” to find out how likely you are to interact with a post.
In the feed, Instagram mainly takes into account five out of twelve possible types of interaction: “How likely you are to look at a post for several seconds, comment, like, share or tap on the profile picture.
The more likely you are to take an action, and the more weighted that action is, the higher up the post will appear in your feed.
Instagram always tries to keep a balance – not to show you too many posts from the same person one after the other. The platform also avoids displaying too many suggested posts at once.
