Instagram is introducing two new features for its feed. In future, users will be able to sort the posts from subscribed accounts chronologically again. You can also use the favourites function to highlight certain statements. We explain the background.
What Instagram boss Adam Mosseri announced at the end of 2021 is gradually becoming a reality. Because the social network brings back the chronological feed, even though the company announced in December 2017 that algorithms would now sort the Instagram feed.
At the end of this year, Mosseri announced to the US Congress that the platform was reintroducing the chronological arrangement. A new addition is the “Favorites” option, with which users can now highlight accounts marked in their feed.
More Control Over The Instagram Feed
Mosseri explained the new features in a video on Twitter. Instagram wants to support three options for sorting the feed in the future. “Home” refers to the previous arrangement of the posts in the meal, which the Instagram algorithm regulates.
According to Mosseri, the home function would recommend accounts that users have not yet followed. Meanwhile, one of the new options is called “Favorites”. Instagram users can mark their favourite performances and highlight them in their feed.
Mosseri calls “following” the second new function. Posts from all accounts that users follow are combined and sorted in chronological order.
Criticism Of The Use Of The Algorithm In The Past
The algorithm-dominated Instagram feed has received frequent criticism in the past. In May 2020, scientists from the data protection organization Algorithm Watch and the Mainz media institute published a 69-page paper. They examined the effects of algorithms in social media on democracy.
The researchers concluded that fears about so-called “filter bubbles” are often unfounded. However, there is evidence that algorithms polarize in different ways. This happens, for example, through very emotional or extreme content.
Instagram Feed: Users Should Feel Good
It is common to use algorithms to determine feed content. Social networks like Facebook and YouTube similarly sort their content.
However, there are exceptions: Twitter arranges many posts in the feed, for example, according to the publication date. Instagram boss Mosseri again explained on Twitter that users were given more control with the new options on his platform to feel comfortable.
The new functions are currently in a test phase. The company did not give an exact date. According to reports, however, some users already have access to the new feed functions, which are to be rolled out gradually.
Instagram Tests Story Likes
Instagram has also activated the “Story Likes” function for selected users. In addition to the previous quick reactions. These are displayed as well as the Vies. This feature aims to make engagement in Instagram stories visible. Instagram is introducing two new features for its feed. In future, users will be able to sort the posts from subscribed accounts chronologically again. At the end of this year, Mosseri announced to the US Congress that the platform was reintroducing the chronological arrangement. The researchers concluded that fears about so-called “filter bubbles” are often unfounded. According to reports, however, some users already have access to the new feed functions, which are to be rolled out gradually.
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