How Does the Instagram Reels Algorithm Work?
Much like Home feed posts, the Instagram Reels algorithm prioritizes videos based on what it believes a viewer will be most likely to interact with.
According to Instagram, the most important signals are:
-
Who: Whose posts are you interacting with? If you frequently like or comment on someone’s content, you’re more likely to see their posts in your feed.
-
What: What type of content do you engage with? For example, if you love beauty content, the algorithm will continue serving that type of content to you.
-
When: As digital creator Laurise McMillian explains, “This focuses on when a post has been posted to decide if it’s relevant to you.” It also takes into consideration how often you scroll on the app — so it will pick and choose what to prioritize.
Instagram also shared that the Reels algorithm will deprioritize content that is visibly recycled from other apps (aka TikTok) or is low-quality.
In a nutshell? If your videos are original, entertaining, interesting, and high-res, the Instagram Reels algorithm is more likely to suggest it.
Ready to kickstart your Instagram Reels strategy? Plan, schedule, and publish your Reels with today. Start your free trial.
