Instagram's New Feature: Following Categories
In our other blog post this month (if you missed it, you read it here) we touched on the fact that the Instagram algorithm is always changing, and dove into how it’s working in 2020. Thanks to Instagram’s newest feature, Following Categories, you can begin to have an effect on personalizing your algorithm.
Head to your profile and click “following” in the upper right hand corner. This is where Instagram now shows two categories: Least Interacted With and Most Shown in Feed. Once you open a category, you can either review the accounts you’ve interacted with the least in the past 90 days (this applies to both posts and stories) or review the accounts with the most posts in your feed over the last 90 days. From there, you can decide if you want to unfollow anyone, manage notifications, or put them on mute.
“Instagram is really about bringing you closer to the people and things you care about — but we know that over time, your interests and relationships can evolve and change,” said a spokesperson to Techcrunch.
How can you use the feature to personalize your algorithm?
Whether you are an influencer, brand, or business, the app allows you to connect with others and build strong, supportive communities. You can use the Following Categories feature to see which accounts are always showing at the top of your feed and which accounts you rarely engage with. Continue growing relationships with those in your Most Shown in Feed category while you get started interacting with those in your Least Interacted With category. Be sure to visit their profiles and engage with both their posts and stories, and hopefully they will make their way to a better position in your feed.
If you are looking to make the algorithm work in the best way possible for you or your brand, be sure to take advantage of this new feature.
Dara Schlossmann is an Influencer Manager at Foodie Tribe. In her free time you will find her taking advantage of the sunny Florida weather, traveling, or in the kitchen cooking up a new recipe.