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Instagram is switching its feed from chronological to best posts first

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Re: Instagram is switching its feed from chronological to best posts first

#3

Post by spike021 »

I'm curious what data all of these companies are using to determine that it is better to identify posts by algorithm as "the best" rather than simply showing everything in chronological order.

I thought Twitter originally said several weeks ago that they would introduce the new feed and then let the user choose to use it or not. So when it first started I thought I opted-out. Just the other day on twitter.com I was shown a list of "best posts" that I needed to close, and then another click to say I didn't like seeing that section.

Even if somehow finding which posts/tweets are "the best" is helpful, I don't doubt that some users prefer chronological order.

It's really disappointing, but then I guess it comes down to the issue of using a free service- in the end they get to choose how it's run and not me.

Re: Instagram is switching its feed from chronological to best posts first

#4

Post by jeremy_k »

I really hope they have an option to switch it back to chronological. I tend to check Instagram at the end of the day and just scroll back until I see things from the previous day, then I know I've seen everything. I don't follow too many people so it only takes a few minutes.

Re: Instagram is switching its feed from chronological to best posts first

#5

Post by JohnTHaller »

ryanolsonx wrote: post #2

Why do all of these social media companies ruin feeds like that? It would be fine if there was a seperate tab for 'best'.. I want to see things as they're posted. No fancy algorithms.

Because the majority of social media users subscribe to more people/companies posting more things than the user could ever possibly read. Rather than users being overwhelmed with noise, getting frustrated, and possibly logging in less, social media companies come up with a way to show them enough content to keep them engaged and happy (and visiting the site/using the app) as long as possible.

Re: Instagram is switching its feed from chronological to best posts first

#7

Post by minimaxir »

spike021 wrote: post #3

I'm curious what data all of these companies are using to determine that it is better to identify posts by algorithm as "the best" rather than simply showing everything in chronological order. I thought Twitter originally said several weeks ago that they would introduce the new feed and then let the user choose to use it or not. So when it first started I thought I opted-out. Just the other day on twitter.com I was s…

Keep in mind that Instagram is owned by Facebook. So expect the same methods Facebook uses to rank content, and consequently expect to see the same "tricks" that marketers use to exploit EdgeRank. (e.g. emotionally-charged linkbait, content-theft-and-reposting)

Re: Instagram is switching its feed from chronological to best posts first

#9

Post by zippergz »

I'm not inherently opposed to a smarter order, but I feel like it (at least in the case of Facebook and Twitter so far) breaks a fundamental part of the use case for me. I check in every so often, and want to scroll back to the last post I saw, so I can know I saw everything. When it is sorted non-chronologically, this is impossible. I see the same thing multiple times because it's sorted near the top, and I miss some stuff completely because it gets sorted to the bottom.

Also, I'm not sure what signals they're using to rank posts. I could imagine using likes and comments, but I don't think that would accurately identify the posts I most want to see. For example, I follow a couple of local restaurants who post specials and similar things on Instagram. I never "like" or comment on those; it seems pointless (I use those actions to communicate with my friends on their posts). If you use that signal, those posts which I always want to see will get pushed to the bottom. I'm not sure what other data they have to use.

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