Thursday, March 22, 2018

"New Posts" on Instagram to Address Algorithmic Feed Complaints

When Facebook's sister company Instagram switched from having a chronological feed to an algorithmic feed in 2016, nearly twenty-six thousand users signed a petition on change.org opposing the change. Similar to Facebook, Instagram explained that the move was aimed at giving users more relevant information based on their interests rather than flooding them with timely photos that they did not care about. 

In many ways, this was interpreted as way to bolster the site's ability to keep eyeballs long enough of the website for advertisers to seamlessly insert their products into feeds dressed as an "enhanced user experience". However, nearly two years later, Instagram is finally almost giving users what they want "new posts".

Rather than than go back to the original chronological feed, Instagram is introducing a new button similar to explore. Using "new posts", users will be able to view newer posts and still revert to the traditional feed to see which photos Instagram's algorithm thinks is best for them. This change was announced amidst the expansion of Instagram's shopping experience across four continents in eight new countries, namely: Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK. 

One business account user Lulus attributes sourcing 1,200 orders to Instagram because it allows users to replicate the " in real life" shopping experience by photographically illustrating how potential customers may pair outfits or providing satisfied influencer customers with the chance to show how to pull off Lulus outfits. While Lulus sounds like a small fish, bigger brands such as Nike (73 million followers), Sephora (12 million followers), Vans (8.2 million followers) and Lululemon (2.1 million followers) have jumped on to the Instagram shopping experience. 

When Instagram's shopping experience was launched in the US last year, users complained about missing timely sales that would get lost in the algorithmic matrix. The new posts adds a fresher touch to the storefront feeling that Instagram is going for as it partners with brands, small businesses and influencers to further monetize the platform. With "new posts" and global expansion, Instagram offers a platform that promises to continue disrupting traditional retail in an unprecedented way.


https://business.instagram.com/blog/shopping-on-instagram-goes-global/

https://www.wired.com/story/instagram-new-posts-feed/

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