"The algorithm" is actually several systems — one each for Feed, Stories, Reels and Explore. They work slightly differently.
Feed
Mostly people you follow. Ranked by how much you interact with the account, how recent the post is and how popular it is.
Stories
People you interact with most appear first. Story views reflect your closest audience.
Reels
Mostly accounts you don't follow. Ranked by predicted watch time, likelihood of sharing, saving and liking, and whether the audio is trending.
Explore
Content similar to what you've engaged with recently. Saves and shares carry a lot of weight.
What this means for you
- Want new followers? Focus on Reels and Explore — that means shareable, saveable content.
- Want loyal followers? Stories and replies.
- Want sales? Feed posts and stories with clear CTAs, plus highlights.
Early engagement matters everywhere
Every system looks at how a post performs at the start. That's why many accounts use early saves and shares on important posts — they're the signals Instagram trusts most.
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