If you’re not a fan of the current feed that is mostly based on AI recommendations instead of a following-only option, well, we’ve got some bad news for you.
Instagram’s chief just confirmed that Meta has no plans of reverting back to the much-in-demand following-only feed. During his latest Q&A session, Adam Mosseri burst many users’ aspirations that a change like that could be possible.
Mosseri says that the future is certainly all about AI recommendations and that is exactly what Meta will be following for both its Instagram and Facebook apps. This was certainly not what many wished to hear.
As per Meta, they have thought long and hard about this and even gone about testing it on numerous occasions. But each time, the results were such that a certain sub-group of people were not happy.
Yes, Mosseri says people do want a following-only feed but as per the results of their tests, data proves how Instagram witnesses less engagement as a whole. This includes less satisfaction of users when it does listen to them.
For this reason, 50% of all content seen on the app is pushed through the AI recommendations system. This not only enhances user experience but ensures they remain engaged for a while. Yes, it’s annoying and Meta knows that. No one wishes to see content from profiles they don’t even follow or are not interested in. But the general figures display that it's better for the app as a whole to take these steps.
In case you’re wondering where all of this came from, it’s all thanks to TikTok who was the first to set the trend. The popular social media app has never focused on the likes of followers. Instead, it aims to put the most entertaining content on the platform on display.
One of the main advantages here has to do with the social graph and no other platform had the same insight regarding the users’ close friends, loved ones, and their interests. However, TikTok changed that with algorithmic recommendations. It’s all based on what you watch and in the past, it was never possible to include such a feature on Facebook.
The app maximized the amount of time users were spending and doubled down on hits. Now, Meta is only following in its footsteps and has managed to attain success there. The same goes for other archrivals of the industry including X and Snapchat.
All of this is done because, at the end of the day, it does work. The charts are going up when the feed shows more content that it feels users like or are interested in.
For now, Mosseri says the option continues to be explored for Instagram at least. He acknowledged how many people wish to get content from connections first, above anything else.
Some examples included a test where Instagram allowed users to snooze the recommendations for feed for a whole month. Similarly, they rolled out a new and exciting Favorites option so that users never miss out on content from people they adore or follow religiously. However, he knows that people want more and he’s working on giving them just that.
But we’re afraid that all that glitters is not always gold. If apps do tend to keep you engaged for a longer time, they are bound to monetize this opportunity with more ads as engagement will bring in the greens.
Image: DIW-Aigen
Read next: Zillow Prepares To Launch New Climate Catastrophe Alerts For Americans Through Its Maps
Instagram’s chief just confirmed that Meta has no plans of reverting back to the much-in-demand following-only feed. During his latest Q&A session, Adam Mosseri burst many users’ aspirations that a change like that could be possible.
Mosseri says that the future is certainly all about AI recommendations and that is exactly what Meta will be following for both its Instagram and Facebook apps. This was certainly not what many wished to hear.
As per Meta, they have thought long and hard about this and even gone about testing it on numerous occasions. But each time, the results were such that a certain sub-group of people were not happy.
Yes, Mosseri says people do want a following-only feed but as per the results of their tests, data proves how Instagram witnesses less engagement as a whole. This includes less satisfaction of users when it does listen to them.
For this reason, 50% of all content seen on the app is pushed through the AI recommendations system. This not only enhances user experience but ensures they remain engaged for a while. Yes, it’s annoying and Meta knows that. No one wishes to see content from profiles they don’t even follow or are not interested in. But the general figures display that it's better for the app as a whole to take these steps.
In case you’re wondering where all of this came from, it’s all thanks to TikTok who was the first to set the trend. The popular social media app has never focused on the likes of followers. Instead, it aims to put the most entertaining content on the platform on display.
One of the main advantages here has to do with the social graph and no other platform had the same insight regarding the users’ close friends, loved ones, and their interests. However, TikTok changed that with algorithmic recommendations. It’s all based on what you watch and in the past, it was never possible to include such a feature on Facebook.
The app maximized the amount of time users were spending and doubled down on hits. Now, Meta is only following in its footsteps and has managed to attain success there. The same goes for other archrivals of the industry including X and Snapchat.
All of this is done because, at the end of the day, it does work. The charts are going up when the feed shows more content that it feels users like or are interested in.
For now, Mosseri says the option continues to be explored for Instagram at least. He acknowledged how many people wish to get content from connections first, above anything else.
Some examples included a test where Instagram allowed users to snooze the recommendations for feed for a whole month. Similarly, they rolled out a new and exciting Favorites option so that users never miss out on content from people they adore or follow religiously. However, he knows that people want more and he’s working on giving them just that.
But we’re afraid that all that glitters is not always gold. If apps do tend to keep you engaged for a longer time, they are bound to monetize this opportunity with more ads as engagement will bring in the greens.
Read next: Zillow Prepares To Launch New Climate Catastrophe Alerts For Americans Through Its Maps
