This past year has been a tumultuous one for the popular social media platform, Instagram. According to Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, the platform has been showing people too many videos throughout the past year.
The problem started when Instagram began changing its algorithm in 2019. The platform’s focus switched from emphasizing interactions between users to prioritizing content consumption. This switch was to maximize user engagement by making it easier for people to find the content they’re interested in. However, Mosseri admits that the algorithm change has had some undesired side effects.
“By making it easier for people to find videos, we inadvertently made it more difficult for people to find the things that help them move and think,” said Mosseri in an interview. “We don’t think it’s right that people are being presented with too much video content on Instagram.”
Mosseri recently released a statement to the public, saying that Instagram plans to address the issue. The statement outlined the platform’s plans to reduce the amount of videos people are exposed to each day. This will be done through a number of changes, including adjusting the algorithm to focus on content that promotes healthier conversations and reducing the number of recommended videos on the ‘Explore’ page.
Mosseri has also noted that Instagram is making an effort to prioritize posts from friends and family. He hopes that these changes will lead to a “more meaningful and sustainable platform,” and will create an environment in which people can truly connect.
Instagram’s decision to reduce the number of videos it displays to users is an important one. By promoting content that encourages meaningful connections, the platform has the potential to become a valuable space for its users. With Mosseri’s pledge to make Instagram a better place, let’s hope that the changes being implemented now will eventually bring about a healthier, more balanced digital environment.