Instagram Shows What’s Under Its Hood to Prove New Algorithm Is Better

The photo-sharing social media service Instagram uses an algorithm to decide which posts appear on users' feed. This is different from how Facebook, the company that owns the social network, operates, in that the most recent posts are often the most visible. To prove that it is confident in its algorithm, Instagram decided to show it off.

As Mashable notes, Instagram got rid of the old way of showing posts in chronological order two years ago in favor of the algorithm that it’s using now. Ever since it did so, however, posts on feeds have been all over the place.

There didn’t seem to be any reason for why posts were shared, making them seem as if they were chosen at random. No one really knew how the algorithm was picking out these posts and deciding to put them up on users’ feeds. Until now, anyway.

During a recent tour of its headquarters located in San Francisco, the social media company provided reporters with the details that went into its algorithm’s decisions in showing posts. Apparently, they include interest, relationship and how recent a post was put up.

With regards to interest, it’s apparently a factor that takes into account users’ probable interest in a post, 9to5Mac reports. By looking at past behavior and preferences, the algorithm decides whether or not users would like to see the same photos of food that their friends share.

Speaking of which, the closeness between users is taken into account via the relationship factor. That is to say, posts depend on the bond that people share, with stronger ties leading to higher prioritization in showing posts.

“Recency,” or how recent the content was posted, is straightforward as a factor for consideration. Basically, if the post was shared over a week ago, it’s less likely to be shared compared to those posted today.