In a recent Q&A session, Mosseri explained why Instagram and other social platforms are focusing more on algorithm-driven, recommendation-based feeds rather than sticking to the chronological, follower-only model. According to him, Instagram has experimented with a following-only feed multiple times, but the results were consistently disappointing. He noted:<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery time we have [tested it], there\u2019s a sub-group of people who are happy, [but] there\u2019s a bunch of people who forget that they\u2019re in it, and overall, everybody who\u2019s in it uses Instagram less and less over time. And when we ask them questions like \u2018how satisfied are you with Instagram?\u2019 they actually report being less happy with Instagram over time.\u201d<\/p>\n
In other words, while some users say they want to see posts only from the people they follow, in practice, it leads to lower engagement and reduced user satisfaction. People just don\u2019t stick around as long, and the snowball effect impacts overall interaction on the platform, including likes, comments, and messages.<\/p>\n
The Algorithmic Feed Shift<\/b><\/p>\n
The shift to AI-driven recommendations has been largely inspired by TikTok, which relies heavily on its algorithm to show users content they\u2019ll enjoy, regardless of whether they follow the creators. Instagram, as well as platforms like Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), have adopted this approach because the data shows it works\u2014users spend more time on the app when they\u2019re served content based on their interests, not just their social connections.<\/p>\n
In fact, about 50% of what Instagram users see is now powered by its recommendation engine. This doesn\u2019t sit well with some users, but Instagram\u2019s numbers show that it leads to longer sessions and, crucially, more ad views, which directly benefits Meta\u2019s bottom line.<\/p>\n
Ongoing Exploration of Alternatives<\/b><\/p>\n
Despite this, there is a demand for better access to content from accounts people follow. Instagram has introduced features like the “Following” feed, the ability to snooze recommendations, and “Favourites,” which lets you prioritise posts from certain accounts. While these features aim to address the desire for more control over what users see, the platform remains committed to its recommendation-heavy model because it drives engagement.<\/p>\n
So, while Instagram isn\u2019t ruling out further tweaks to how your feed works, it seems clear that the algorithmic approach is here to stay\u2014because at the end of the day, it keeps people scrolling longer.<\/p>\n
In summary, while a follower-only feed sounds appealing to many, the data shows it just doesn\u2019t work. And as long as algorithmic recommendations drive up engagement (and revenue), that\u2019s where social apps like Instagram will continue to focus.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In a recent Q&A session, Mosseri explained why Instagram and other social platforms are focusing more on algorithm-driven, recommendation-based feeds rather than sticking to the chronological, follower-only model. According to him, Instagram has experimented with a following-only feed multiple times, but the results were consistently disappointing. He noted: \u201cEvery time we have [tested it], there\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":18609,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18608","news","type-news","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":{"news_title":"Instagram is Favouring Algorithm-Based Feeds","news_title_source":{"label":"News Title","type":"text","formatted_value":"Instagram is Favouring Algorithm-Based Feeds"},"news_short_summery":"If you\u2019ve been hoping for a \"following only\" feed on Instagram, where you could see posts exclusively from accounts you\u2019ve chosen, you might want to temper those expectations. According to Instagram chief Adam Mosseri, it\u2019s not likely to happen anytime soon.","news_short_summery_source":{"label":"News Short Summery","type":"text","formatted_value":"If you\u2019ve been hoping for a \"following only\" feed on Instagram, where you could see posts exclusively from accounts you\u2019ve chosen, you might want to temper those expectations. According to Instagram chief Adam Mosseri, it\u2019s not likely to happen anytime soon."},"news_quotes":"","news_quotes_source":{"label":"News Quotes","type":"text","formatted_value":""},"additional_content":"","additional_content_source":{"label":"Additional Content","type":"wysiwyg","formatted_value":""}},"yoast_head":"\n