I haven't made an in-depth Instagram algorithm video in a very long time, and the Instagram algorithm has changed dramatically over the past years, months, days, hours. So, I figured one of these videos was massively overdue. So, not only am I going to be breaking down exactly how Instagram's algorithm works in 2022, I'm also going to be turning this into a three-part series. In the next video, I'll bust some common Instagram algorithm myths, and in the third video, I'm going to be telling you the exact strategies you need to leverage Instagram's algorithm. So, let's just get straight to it, shall we?
So, why does the algorithm exist? This is something that I feel like everyone needs to know because, if we don't know why the algorithm exists, we tend not to respect it, right? We tend to hate it, and then we get frustrated that it even is around in the first place. But let me break it down for you. The algorithm was introduced by Instagram in 2016. The reason why the algorithm was introduced is that Instagram realized that we, the users on the platform, were actually missing out on a lot of content. And the reason why is that Instagram had grown so much since its first inception, and what that meant was there were more people on the platform, there was more content on the platform, and Instagram needed to find a way to ensure that we were consistently seeing the content that we wanted to see, okay? So, that's why it was introduced. Love it or hate it, the algorithm was actually introduced for us to try and improve our viewing experience. The fundamental reason why it has stayed and why it's still like the default option that we see on Instagram is because Instagram knows that the algorithm actually increases or ensures that we stay on the platform for longer. And that really is the core purpose for any social media platform: to get us to stay on their platform for as long as possible.
Now that we know why the algorithm exists, it's time to really break down exactly how it works, right? And there's three main things that I need to explain when it comes to Instagram's algorithms and how it works. The first is that there are multiple algorithms, okay? So, from now on, I'm not going to refer to Instagram's algorithm in a singular sense. I'm going to start referring to it in a plural because there are multiple Instagram algorithms. But when I say algorithms in plural without explaining that there are multiple algorithms, people get very confused. So, there are several different algorithms on Instagram, which all power different parts of the platform. And I'm going to break down exactly the reasons why for that and how they differ a little bit later on in the video. So, don't panic, but I first just need to flag the fact there are multiple algorithms.
The next thing that I want to talk about in regards to the algorithm and how it actually works is probably the most significant thing. And this is all about the algorithm's signals. So, the signals are specific things that Instagram's algorithms look for in order to figure out who is going to see your content. So, are a lot of people going to see it? Are your friends and family going to see it? Are they going to see it super high up on their feed? Are they going to see it on the explore page, all of those things? Like, all of that information that is decided by these core algorithm signals, and I'm going to tell you what they are in the simplest of terms so that we can all understand them and use them to make sure that our content is performing super well in the future. So, here we go. The core signals that Instagram's algorithms look for can actually be broken into three groups, and it's really easy to understand, right? So, it's who, what, and when. There are more specific signals that all the different algorithms look for, but I'm gonna break those down for you in just a second, right? So, bear with me for now. We're just going to understand the core signals that every single algorithm looks for. That way, when you're creating content, you can have these three things in your mind just to always ensure that the content you're creating should hopefully hit those signals pretty well.
I think that now would be a good time for me to talk about the different algorithms that exist on Instagram, why they exist, and basically the differences between them, okay? So, let's start with why they exist. The reason why Instagram has multiple algorithms is because we actually use the different features on Instagram in different ways. I'm gonna give you some examples by breaking down three of the core algorithms on Instagram and actually tell you how Instagram thinks that we use them and also how they differ. I'm focusing on these three algorithms because these are the only ones that Instagram have actually come out and provided this information on. It took a lot of digging to get this info, but I found it. So, the first algorithm is your feed and stories algorithm. The reason why this algorithm exists is that Instagram thinks that we use our feed and our stories to stay in touch with our friends and our family. So, therefore, it developed an algorithm, which is designed to show us content from people who Instagram think are our friends and our family. With this in mind, one of the key things that this algorithm is looking for when it's reviewing your content is your interaction history with your audience, right? If you are constantly engaging with someone, so if you're constantly sending direct messages to someone, Instagram is going to think that you're their friend or their family. So, when you post, there's a big chance that that person is going to see your content, right? So, that is how the algorithm, which powers your feeds and your story content works.
Q: What is the purpose behind Instagram's algorithm?
A: The algorithm was introduced by Instagram in 2016 to ensure users see the content they want to see and to increase user retention on the platform.
Q: How many Instagram algorithms are there?
A: There are multiple algorithms on Instagram, each powering different parts of the platform.
Q: What are the key signals in Instagram's algorithm?
A: The core signals that Instagram's algorithms look for include 'who, what, and when'. These signals help determine who sees your content and where it appears on the platform.
Q: Why does Instagram have different algorithms?
A: Instagram has different algorithms to cater to how users engage with different features on the platform. For example, there is a specific algorithm for feeds and stories that prioritize content from friends and family.
