Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms worldwide, with billions of people sharing their photos, videos, and stories on the platform every day. But how exactly does the Instagram feed work, and how are the contents selected for each user? In this article, we will take a behind-the-scenes look and unveil the algorithm that creates the personalized feed.
4. Predictions and Weighting: Based on the signals, the algorithm makes predictions about how likely you are to engage in various actions with a post, such as viewing, commenting, liking, sharing, or tapping on the poster’s profile photo. The higher the likelihood of an action and the more it is weighted, the higher the post will be placed in the feed.
5. Other Factors and Adjustments: Instagram takes into account other factors to ensure a diverse feed experience. For example, posts from the same account are not shown too frequently in succession, and an excessive number of suggested posts at once is avoided. The algorithm is continuously improved and adjusted based on user behavior to deliver more relevant content.
The Basics of the Instagram Feed:
- The feed: is the home page of Instagram where you see the posts from the accounts you follow. It consists of a mixture of content, including photos, videos, and carousels, which are selected based on various factors. The Instagram feed doesn’t rely on a single algorithm that makes all the decisions but utilizes a combination of algorithms, classifiers, and processes to personalize the content.
- Ranking the Posts: To create the feed, Instagram starts by establishing a list of content that could be relevant to the user. This includes recent posts from the accounts you follow, as well as posts from accounts you don’t follow but may find interesting. The algorithm takes into account various signals to determine the relevance of the posts.
- Signals for Ranking: There are numerous signals that Instagram uses to evaluate the relevance of the posts. These include your activities such as likes, comments, saves, and shares. Instagram also analyzes information about the post itself, such as popularity, time of posting, and possible location data. Additionally, information about the person who posted the content is considered, including past interactions with that person.