Instagram has explained a little better how its mysterious search algorithm works and how they select the recommendations and the content we see both in our feed, as in the stories, Reels and the Explore section (Discover).
The social network has also shared some recommendations of what we can do with our accounts to gain more visibility, and they have also detailed the type of content that is penalized. Those accounts that are only dedicated to sharing reposts and non-original content without contributing anything, will remain in the background.
Bypassing an iPhone can give you likes, but the Instagram algorithm will not put you in Discover
Instagram has a whole series of recommendations for its users, and they say that if they do not meet all the requirements described there, their algorithm simply will not promote your content, mostly on Discover, but probably on the rest of the feed as well.
Those recommendations include things like: avoiding posting of violent content, that encourages suicide, sexually explicit content, content that promotes the use of regulated products such as tobacco, promoting deceptive or false business models, promoting ‘miracle cures’ or cosmetic procedures, and even supplements that claim to help you lose weight. All this falls within the delicate content related to health or finances, and they are things more or less known for a long time.
However, there are other recommendations on “poor quality content“that can affect a good number of accounts in the immediate future. Instagram will not recommend:
Non-original content that has been largely drawn from another source without adding any material value.
Content from websites that receive a disproportionate number of clicks from Instagram compared to other places on the web.
News content that does not include transparent information about authorship or editorial team.
Basically, if the account is primarily dedicated to refuel content of others if adding anything of additional self-value, it will not be recommended. The same happens if you share news without specifying the source and where it comes from.
Those “follow us and mention three friends to participate” posts will not be well received by the algorithm
In addition to this, Instagram has added three more types of content because “users indicate that they do not like it in general”. Here they enter:
- Content that includes click baits (clickbait).
- Content that includes interaction lures.
- Content promoting a contest or sweepstakes.
With this it seems that the infinity of accounts that exist on Instagram that are only dedicated to sharing pixelated memes will have it more difficult to gain more followers. Worse it is those accounts that perfectly comply with all the rules and that from time to time use their publications to promote a giveaway and a service.
What you should do to be promoted in the Discover tab is use a username that has to do with the type of content you publish, in addition to including keywords and locations in your bio if they are relevant to your content. And finally, confirm that the hashtags should go in the description and not in the comments.