Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
You ever scroll through your Instagram feed and think, how
in the world did they know? I was just thinking
about vintage cameras, like it's spooky. Well, get ready to
demystify that black box we call the Instagram algorithm. Today's
deep dive is all about understanding how it works.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
And the cool thing is we've got We've got Adam
Ulseeri himself to guide us. His blog post Instagram ranking
explain is like a treasure trove of insights.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Exactly, and he starts by busting a major myth, that
single all knowing algorithm myth. It turns out Instagram doesn't
have just one algorithm, but several, each fine tune for
different parts of the app.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Which you know makes sense if you think about it,
because like your main feed is kind of like your
own personal news feed, balancing posts from people you follow
with posts, Instagram thinks you'll like stories, though totally different story.
They're all about those close connections, so they prioritize views
and interactions you have with specific accounts, And.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
Then you've got Explore, almost like that trending Now tab
explores algorithms seems laser focused on introducing you to stuff
that's already making waves, even if it's from accounts you
haven't followed yet.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
Right, it's all about discovery, And of course we can't
forget reels, the entertainment center of Instagram. Reels heavily rely
on direct feedback from well users like you and me
to fine tune what pops up.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
It's true I spend way too much time watching reels.
But okay, let's unpack these algorithms one by one. Starting
with the feed. I'm really curious about the sheer volume
of factors or signals as they call them, that come
into play. I mean, we're talking thousands of data points,
like everything from your activity to the accounts you interact with,
even down to stuff like what kind of device you're using,
(01:40):
or if you tend to watch more videos.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
It's it's actually pretty amazing.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
Okay, now that's where things get really wild for me.
I get how, say, liking a ton of baking videos
might mean more of those show up, But the device
I'm using, what's that got to do with anything?
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Well? See, it's all about understanding those teeny tiny usage
patterns that we all like. Are you more likely to
watch a longer video when you're on a tablet or
maybe you're someone who engages more with shopping posts on
your phone. These are the kinds of details Instagram is
picking up on.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
Wow, it's it's mind blowing how granular it gets out
of all those signals, though, what actually carries the most
weight to your activity?
Speaker 2 (02:19):
What you like, what you share, the comments you leave,
even something as simple as how long you watch a
video for these are the strongest signs of your interests. Really,
Instagram's algorithms are all about prioritizing content you've already shown
you're into, especially from accounts you already follow.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
So like, if I'm constantly liking this amazing photographer's work,
it actually helps to like double tap those photos and
maybe even leave a comment every now and then.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
And that actually brings us to another really interesting piece
of how the feed ranking works, this concept of recency. See,
it's not just about showing you the absolute newest posts first.
It's smarter than that. Instagram actually looks at your usage
patterns to figure out when you're most likely to be online,
and then prioritizes posts from that timeframe.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
Hold on, so you're telling me that a post from
let's say that photographer I mentioned it might show up
higher in my feed, even if it's a few hours old,
just because the algorithms figured out that I tend to
check Instagram during my lunch break.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
You got it.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
That's wild. I mean, it's like Instagram's learning my schedule.
Not gonna lie though, As someone who's been known to
fall down the rabbit hole of scrolling through old posts,
this makes me appreciate the algorithm a little bit more.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
It's a delicate balancing act. Really. You've got to keep
things fresh, you know, but also make sure you don't
miss out on stuff from accounts you genuinely care about.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Totally. Now, we talked about how the feed is all
about your established connections and the algorithm's best guesses about
your interest, but stories seem to take a different approach.
They put a premium on your inner circle. Yeah, those
people you're closest to, right, And this is where I'm
really curious about this closeness signal. So its Instagram basically
(03:58):
analyzing my digital love life. Now. I mean, if I'm
liking someone's posts and sliding into their dms, I'm guessing
that's a pretty strong signal that I want to see
their stories, right.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
Yeah, pretty much. Instagram looks at who you message the most,
who you're tagged in photos with. They even factor in
if you've connected your contacts list. Oh wow, it's wild.
They're trying to map out those real life relationships and
then basically reflect them in your digital world.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
So Instagram's like playing digital Cupid now, and I guess
that means my love life is officially in the hands
of the algorithm. But speaking of algorithms, let's move on
to Explore. If the feed is my personalized news feed,
Explore feels more like that trending now tab right. Yeah,
it's showing me all this content from accounts that don't
even follow. So how does Instagram even begin to figure
(04:47):
out what I'd want to see there?
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Well, Explore definitely relies on predicting your interests too, But
unlike the feed, which is all about prioritizing those accounts
you've already decided to follow, Explore is more about unearthing
content that's our already got some serious buzz. It's kind
of like Instagram saying, hey, check this out. Everyone else
is it's blowing.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
Up, okay, So it's less about me specifically and more
about what's grabbing everyone's attention.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
Exactly. A big signal for Explore is how fast a
post gets engagement, Like how quickly does it rack up
likes and comments. If a post from let's say, a
baking account one you don't even follow, it's going viral,
bam Explores more likely to put it on your radar.
It's all about introducing you to new creators and content
you might have totally missed otherwise.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
That makes sense. I've definitely gone down some unexpected rabbit
holes and Explore that turned out to be super interesting.
It's kind of like this whole secret world of hidden
gems just waiting to be found totally.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
And that brings us to another fascinating thing about Explorer,
which is how visual it is. The algorithm really seems
to favor posts that are well visually appealing. It's almost
like it understands that a really striking image or video
is what's going to grab our attention. First.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
You're preaching to the choir. So basically what you're saying
is a really gorgeous food photo has a better chance
of popping up in my Explore feed than say, a
super text heavy post about I don't know the history
of sourdough bread. Yeah, even if I am a total
baking nerd, You nailed it.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Visuals are a huge deal for Explorers ranking system. But hey,
we can't wrap up this algorithm tour without talking about reels,
those short little videos that have taken over the Internet. Right. Well,
they've got their own unique ranking system too.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
Oh yeah, for sure. Reels definitely feel like the place
where entertainment takes center stage? Is that why they often
remind me of Explore? Like I'm constantly seeing content from
accounts I don't follow but could totally see myself getting into.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
You're right on the money. Reels and Explorer actually do
share some similarities when it comes to their ranking algorithms.
Both are really focused on surfacing those new creators and
content based on well, what Instagram things you'll like. But
here's where things get really interesting with reels. Instagram actually
surveys users about their experience.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Wait, really, did you enjoy this reel? Was it worth
your time?
Speaker 2 (07:03):
Exactly? They want to know if it was actually entertaining,
if you learn something new, or if it was just me.
This feedback loop allows them to constantly tweak their algorithm
and make sure they're showing you the most engaging reels possible.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
I've got to hand it to them, that's a pretty
smart move. Yeah, it's like they're crowdsourcing those algorithm tweaks
to make sure people are genuinely entertained and not just
stuck in that endless scroll. But speaking of endless scrolling,
this whole conversation about algorithms can feel kind of overwhelming.
You know. It's like we're at the mercy of this
code that just feeds us content, whether we actually want
(07:35):
it or not.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
I get it. It's a common feeling. But the good
news is you're not powerless. In his blog post, Adam
Mosseri actually spends a lot of time talking about how
Instagram's trying to give users more control of their experience.
There are tools, and it's all about learning how to
use them to curate more intentional and ultimately enjoyable experience.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
So what you're saying is we're not just along for
the ride on this algorithm driven roller coaster. Yea, there
are ways to actually steer tell me everything, because I
am so ready to reclaim my feed.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
It starts with recognizing the power you do have. For instance,
have you ever used features like favorites and close friends
they're there to help you prioritize that content from your
you know, your VIPs, the people whose posts you never
want to miss. And what about when you just need
a break from a certain topic or account, that's uh,
maybe taking over your feed. That's what muting and unfollowing
(08:27):
are for.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
Mute is my go to. Yeah, sometimes you just need
a break without you know, making it a whole thing.
But okay, I got to ask, what about this whole
shadow band thing. It's like the Boogeyman of Instagram. Everyone's
whispering about it, convince their contents being buried, but can
anyone actually prove it's real? Does MOSERI finally address the
(08:49):
elephant or should I say the shadow in the room.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
He doesn't actually use the word shadow band directly, but
he definitely tackles those community concerns head on about you know,
those unexplainable dips and reach that people are freaking out about.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
Okay, so give it to me straight. Is shadow banning
real or is it all in our heads? Is it
just our collective Instagram anxieties getting the best of us.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Well, Massari's stance is pretty clear. Instagram wants its creators
to do well. Why because when the community's thriving, it
means more awesome, engaging content, which means users like us
keep coming back for more. Everyone wins.
Speaker 1 (09:22):
Right, true makes sense from a business perspective, But what
about those sudden drops in reach that have so many
creators panicking, like, how does that fit into this hole
we want you to succeed thing.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
That's where the account status tool comes in. Think of
it like, think of it like a backstage pass to
see how Instagram views your account.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
So instead of freaking out about this mythical shadow ban,
I can just go into my account status and see
if there's actually something affecting my reach. That's a game changer.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
Right, It takes out all the guestswork and knowledge is power. Right.
Account status can give you a clear picture of what's
going on behind the scenes. I like it like maybe
a recent post accidentally went against those community guidelines, or
maybe there's just like a technical glitch that's messing with
your contents and visibility. This will tell you that is huge.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
It's like suddenly we're not just like at the whim
of the algorithm. We can actually be proactive.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
One hundred percent. And you know what, Instagram's even experimenting
with some new notifications that'll actually tell creators if a
real's reach is limited because of something as honestly small
as like a watermark.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
No way, seriously, Yeah, see, stuff like that is so helpful.
No more guessing games.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
You know, after this deep dive, I feel like I've
had a light bulb moment. It feels way less intimidating,
you know, like it's not about trying to crack the
secret code or anything. It's more about understanding the why
and the how.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
It's about understanding the logic because it is logical, even
if it seems random sometimes totally.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
And look, we've learned that the algorithms are always changing
and that Instagram's really trying to get this balance right
between personalization and you know, keeping things safe and making
sure we actually have some control over what we see.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
I think the biggest takeaway from me it's just remembering
that we're not just passive bystanders here. We have a voice,
We can engage more strategically, make use of all the
tools they've given us, and actually understand the factors that
are influencing you know, what ends up in our feeds.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
Right you're in the driver's seat you just got to,
you know, learn the rules of the road exactly.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
You know what, maybe after this, I'm finally going to
go and actually organize my close friends list. Or maybe
I'll play around with different types of content. I don't know,
see what happens. It's like I'm not just throwing Spagheti
at the wall anymore hoping something sticks. Whatever I do,
I actually feel like I've got the knowledge to make
it happen. No more confusion, no more mystery. Algorithm.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
That's what we like to hear. It's all about that
aha moment.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
That's what it's all about. Well, thanks for joining me
on this algorithm adventure. Until next time, happy scrolling, everybody,