They are part of our lives and have the power to even change our perception of them. Each social media platform has a distinct algorithm responsible for recommending content to its users based on various criteria. While companies are generally reluctant to explain the inner workings of their algorithms, there are times when they publicly share the criteria they consider when recommending certain posts to each user.
This week, Instagram has made an effort to be transparent with its users by revealing how its recommendation system works when prioritizing certain posts over others for each individual.
Instagram’s director, Adam Mosseri, explains how the recommendation system of the social network operates. It relies on multiple algorithms (not just one) to prioritize certain content over others in various sections of the platform: the main feed, Stories, Explore, Reels, and search.
A significant portion of the data used for content recommendations on Instagram, as many would expect, comes from the users themselves. For instance, the algorithms take into account how frequently you view other users’ Stories and whether you interact with them in any way (such as reactions, likes, or private messages) to prioritize them and display them at the top. The algorithms even attempt to “figure out” the type of relationship you have with another user (whether they are a mere acquaintance, a friend, or a family member, for example).
Similar to other platforms like YouTube, Instagram considers the content you have liked, shared, or responded to in order to show you similar posts. In Reels, factors such as what you watch and listen to in videos, the information about the person who shared them, the number of followers they have, and their level of engagement are also taken into account, among other aspects.
While Instagram provides some information (though not entirely) about how its post recommendation system works, the social network remains frustrating for many users who have limited control over manually choosing which posts they want to see or not. They also lack the ability to view their friends’ posts chronologically, a feature that other social media platforms offer.
Some of the links added in the article are part of affiliate campaigns and may represent benefits for Softonic.
