Instagram is introducing a new algorithm to determine the order of posts in the feed. The algorithm will prioritize posts that a user is most likely to interact with based on past interactions and the relationship between the user and account. This aims to increase user engagement by surfacing the most relevant content first. The changes will roll out in the coming months. As brands adapt, they should focus on creating valuable content that encourages interaction in order to achieve high organic placement in users' feeds.

1. Eye On:
Instagram Feed Gains Order
03.21.16

2. Contents
1. Instagram Introduces New Algorithm
2. How Will the Feed Change?
• Concrete Timing
3. What Does This Mean for Brands?

3. Eye On: Instagram Feed Gains Order, Vol 5, Issue 3, March 2016 © Leo Burnett /// Arc Worldwide
Eye On: : Instagram Feed Gains Order
Instagram Introduces New Algorithm
Since its debut in 2010, Instagram images have been presented in
chronological order. A new algorithm update will change that by
frontloading images that the platform deems “worthy” based on
user behavior and the likelihood of user interest. The social
platform owned by Facebook announced that the update will roll
out in the coming months.
How Will The Feed Change?
The platform’s change in algorithm might, in part, be a response to
findings like those from VentureBeat, indicating that user interaction was
down nearly 40-percent last year – creating a need to make the content
users see first be the content most likely to grow the platform.
To make this happen, the algorithm will look at the relationship between
the user, the account that is posting, and the time stamp of the content
posted. The content that is commented on and “liked” frequently by the
user is more likely to pop up first in the feed when the app is opened.

4. Eye On: Instagram Feed Gains Order, Vol 5, Issue 3, March 2016 © Leo Burnett /// Arc Worldwide
Concrete Timing
Since time factors into the priority of a post, the platform will now display
the actual time it was uploaded – not in weeks or in days but with the
actual date. This information will shift from the top right corner of the post
to the bottom left corner.
What does this mean for brands?
Instagram says that users miss an average of 70% of feed content from
those followed, so the algorithm should make sure that the 30% seen is
the most interesting. As these changes roll out, consider the following:
• In order to achieve high organic placement, content will need to provide
a reason to stop scrolling long enough to take interest. In other words,
content needs value!
• Take special note of posts that excel under this new model and optimize
based on performance.
• Paid media content should not be affected as far as where it appears in
a feed.
Eye On: Instagram Feed Gains Order
Users will now see the post time at the
bottom of the image (seen here in the red
box).
Sources: Instagram, Adweek,Peopleschoice.com, Shutterstock.com, Venture Beat