Instagram, one of the most popular social media platforms in the world, has been a matter of curiosity for years. This issue is the Instagram algorithm, as you might guess. People see hundreds, maybe thousands, of posts throughout the day, but it’s not clear how these posts are sorted. Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri put an end to this debate that has been going on for years and explained the question of how the Instagram algorithm works in all details.
The statements made by Adam Mosseri reveal how the posts, stories, discover page and reels on Instagram are ranked. When we look at the explanations made, we see that Instagram actually has more than one algorithm and these algorithms work simultaneously. Let’s take a closer look at how the Instagram algorithm works.
How does the Instagram algorithm work?
How does the flow page work?
- User activity
- Information about the displayed post
- Information about the person who shared the displayed posts
User activity
The Instagram algorithm, above all else, looks at your usage habits on Instagram. In this context; Posts you like, save, comment on, and share with someone are considered your interests for Instagram. Other posts on the homepage are also shaped accordingly.
Information about the displayed post
In the post where Adam Mosseri answered the question of how the Instagram algorithm works, he explained that the information about the displayed posts is also important. The algorithm separates posts from accounts a user follows based on their popularity. Issues such as how many people like the post, commented on, shared and saved determine its place on the homepage.
Information about the person who shared the displayed posts
The Instagram algorithm doesn’t just focus on the displayed post. Who the post is shared with is also important for its place on the homepage. Posts by more popular users are prioritized. However, there is a handicap here. No matter how popular a user is, not all posts are boosted if they keep posting.
How are the stories ordered?
- History viewing
- Interaction frequency
- Proximity
History viewing
The main thing about how stories are ranked on Instagram is past behavior. Adam Mosseri said that past movements are important to the question of how the Instagram algorithm works. When we look at the stories, we come to the conclusion that the most important issue is the past views. The more you look at a user’s story, the more that user is in the foreground.
Interaction frequency
One of the important things about how Instagram stories are ranked is how often you interact with the user’s other stories. The stories of the accounts whose stories you have given more likes or DMs are shown in the front row.
Proximity
Instagram also tries to guess if the person sharing the story is your family, friend or someone you don’t know. As your level of intimacy increases, stories come to the fore.
How does the Discover page work?
- Post popularity
- Activity in Discover
- History with the owner of the post
- Information about the owner of the post
Post popularity
The number one consideration when it comes to how the Instagram algorithm works on the Explore page is the popularity of the post. Faster and more liked or saved posts are prioritized.
Activity in Discover
We said that the main thing that creates the algorithm is the user himself. This is what creates the Discover page. Whatever the user is interested in, he gets in front of him.
History with the owner of the post
On the Discover page, there are posts from unfollowed users. If there is an account that you do not follow, but liked, shared or saved the post, those pages stand out in Discover.
Information about the owner of the post
Accounts that have delivered the posts they shared in the last few weeks to more people come to the fore on the Discover page.
How does the Reals page work?
- User activity
- Interaction history
- Post popularity
- Post owner popularity
User activity
The answer to the question of how the Instagram algorithm works is similar in many categories. Just like on the homepage and Discover, user activity is prioritized on the Reels page. Categories that interest you appear in Reels.
Interaction history
Reals from accounts you have interacted with in the past are displayed more on this page.
Post popularity
The more popular the audio or images in the created Reels video, the more likely they are to be featured in the front row.
Post owner popularity
Posts on Reels are ranked based on the popularity of the people who posted them. Accounts with a high number of followers and better engagement stand out on the Reels page.
The statements made by Adam Mosseri have cleared up the question marks in the minds of those who wonder how the Instagram algorithm works. So, did these explanations satisfy you?