Instagram Adds Following and Favorites

Last week, Instagram finally gave its user base something they’ve long asked for again - the ability to be able to view their feeds chronologically vs. algorithmically.

That means you can now click Following and see what’s been posted, from everyone you’re following, in the order in which it was posted.

In addition, Instagram has added a feature that’s long been available on Facebook [ renamed Meta ] - the ability to curate a Favorites list.

Why, though, did Instagram bring back Following?

Because there are several legislative bills pending right now that aim to address the negative effects on our mental health of seeing only algorithmic based content.

For instance: let’s say your teen daughter uses Instagram and occasionally likes, clicks and comments on pictures of college age boys she’s also seen on TikTok or YouTube. The algorithm might then start surfacing content in her News Feed from more boys…boys that might not have her best interests at heart if she starts a DM conversation with them.

Children tend to go down rabbit holes [ and so do we, as adults] when consistently shown content they’re liking and commenting on. These bills aim to put a stop to the dangers inherent in algorithmic based content.

Below, I am quoting from the tech blog, The Verge, which recently shared what some of these pending bills are:

”The Protecting Americans from Dangerous Algorithms Act which wants to make companies legally liable if their algorithms amplify misinformation that leads to offline violence. The Don’t Push My Buttons Act would give users more control over their online experience by declining to be served content that optimizes for engagement via data collection and algorithms. The bipartisan Filter Bubble Transparency Act would require platforms to offer users an option to switch the algorithms off. The EU, meanwhile, is working toward the adoption of the Digital Services Act, which includes regulations on recommender systems (algorithms that determine what people see).”

So, by re-introducing Following, Instagram is getting out in front of the algorithm legislation.

So, now that you know the why, what else do you need to know so you can use Instagram’s new Favorites and Following features, strategically? Keep reading.

How To Find Instagram Following And Favorites

As you can see from reading the above image, Instagram hasn’t made Following the default way you can view your main feed. Your main feed is still delivered algorithmically.

If you want to view your feed chronologically, you need to tap every time.

Instagram Favorites: What You Need To Know

As you can see from reading the above image, you can add 50 Favorites.

If you’re an interior designer or kitchen and bath designer reading this post, here’s what to consider, strategically.

What do you need to see, first?

Posts from your clients? Posts from tradeshows? Posts from editors? Posts from your favorite/key vendors? Posts from key industry people that provide content that’s important for you to know?

Posts from family or close friends? Posts from some of the members of Groups you’re part of…like the #EthosInnerCircle or #DesignWealth or #DesignHounds? What about posts that entertain you and/or educate you?

Conversely, if you’re a furniture or kitchen and bath manufacturer reading this, what do you need to see first? Posts from breaking news services? Posts from your top 20 clients? Posts from industry trade publications? Posts from your key suppliers?

And if you’re a furniture retailer, what might you need to see first? Posts from your local news sources? Posts from your local competition? Posts from your best customers? Posts from your key vendors/suppliers?

As you have probably thought about already, curating Favorites..and going ONLY to the Favorites link means: serendipity won’t come into play as often.

On the other hand, if you choose to continue to look only at your main feed which is still base on algorithms, and you don’t click on Following or Favorites each time you look at Instagram, you are going to be fed more of the same of what you click on to like, what you save, and what you comment on.

So, if you want to vary your experience on Instagram, curate some Favorites that open you up to new points of view, and seek out accounts for your main feed to like and save that bring a different point of view into what you’re seeing on a daily basis.

Otherwise, your biases, your interests are simply being re-confirmed day after day…and those biases and interests are being sold to the highest bidder….because Instagram’s business is to help brands [and potentially nefarious others] target ads to you by INTEREST.

There’s a lot to consider when using any social site, and Instagram is constantly changing, as we all know.

And, as I have for many years now, I urge you to build your own email lists, so you are never at the mercy of a platform you don’t own, to secure new business.

On that note, I would love it if you would subscribe to this blog, and if you do, you will automatically be prompted to download my very valuable freebie, which you can see on the sidebar:

My Top Ten Tips To Help You Build Traffic To Your Website For 24/7 Revenue Generation

As always, I appreciate you reading and I hope this post has been helpful to you.

If it has been, please consider sharing it with others in your Groups and on your social sites.

Thank you!

Leslie Carothers
Chief Energizing Officer
savourpartnership.com

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PS: Another recent Instagram related post my readers have enjoyed is this one, in case you missed it:

https://www.savourpartnership.com/blog/how-to-add-custom-branded-call-to-action-text-links-to-instagram-stories