Facebook and Instagram Social Media Algorithms Trends and What to do With Them

Social media platforms are constantly evolving, and keeping up with algorithm changes is essential for maximizing reach and engagement. The way content is prioritized shifts frequently, making it important to stay updated. Through my research and ongoing work, I track algorithm trends across some of the major platforms—Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Below, I break down what I see in 2025 and how you can adapt your strategy for better results knowing these trends

Facebook Algorithm
Facebook’s algorithm continues to prioritize meaningful engagement and community-building. Here are some key changes and insights:

1. Facebook is emphasizing deeper interactions, such as longer comments and diverse reactions (not just "likes"). Posts that spark authentic conversations are very valuable.   
What You Can Do

• Instead of just sharing updates, ask your audience for their opinions. Example: “We just launched a new product! What’s one feature you wish every product like this had?” instead of “We just launched a new product”
• Share personal or customer stories and ask followers to share their own experiences.
• Industry-relevant but friendly debates encourage longer responses. Example: “AI is changing marketing fast—some love it, others worry about losing the ‘human touch.’ Where do you stand?”

 
2. While business pages are still relevant, content shared by individuals (especially employees) get more visibility than business pages.   
What You Can Do

• Share your business content from your personal profile and encourage employees to do the same.
• Encourage employees and advocates to share your content from their personal profiles as well as like and comment.
• Create and actively manage a Facebook Group centered around your brand’s niche.

 
3. Facebook is showing users more posts from accounts they don’t follow if the content aligns with their interests. This means discoverability has increased—your content can reach beyond your current followers if it's engaging.
What You Can Do

• Use Relevant Keywords & Hashtags – Facebook now integrates hashtags and AI-driven discovery, so include industry-relevant keywords and branded hashtags. Example: Instead of “Check out our new eco-friendly water bottle!” Try “Looking for a sustainable way to stay hydrated? Our eco-friendly water bottle is here! #SustainableLiving #EcoFriendly”

• Post Educational tips, industry insights, how-to guides
• Post behind-the-scenes videos, storytelling, success stories, and personal experiences. Provoke emotions in your posts
• Posting about industry trends or current events increases the chance of Facebook recommending your content.

 
4. It’s no longer enough to just post content. You need to engage in comments, reply quickly, and be part of the conversation.
What You Can Do

• Reply to comments and start conversations to boost visibility.
• Posting when your audience is most active increases visibility. Experiment with different posting times and track engagement patterns.
• Facebook now integrates recommended hashtags, so use them wisely.

5. Video Content – Short-form and long-form video still perform well—invest in quality video storytelling.
What You Can Do

• Use Facebook Reels 

Instagram Algorithm
1. Instagram also prioritizes consistent content that receives likes, comments, shares, and saves. Posts that spark meaningful interactions are shown to more users.
What You Can Do

• Encourage engagement by asking open-ended questions in captions and using interactive elements like polls and quizzes in Stories.
• Keep your captions and calls to action genuine and valuable to encourage organic engagement
• Reply to comments and DMs within three hours to boost visibility in the algorithm.
• Instagram rewards regular posting. Aim for daily, every other day, or at least twice a week for consistent visibility.

 
2. Unlike Facebook, Instagram still emphasizes new content meaning the newest posts appear first when users log in.
What You Can Do

• Post when your audience is most active to maximize reach.

 
3. Instagram populates feeds based on user interests and followed hashtags. If someone interacts frequently with content related to a certain topic, similar posts (even from accounts they don’t follow) will appear in their feed.
What You Can Do

• Experiment with different hashtags and analyze which ones attract the most engagement.
• Captions should spark discussion, storytelling, or insight. Ask open-ended questions to drive more comments.

 
4. Unlike Facebook, Instagram does not prioritize personal content over business posts. However, posts with higher engagement naturally perform better, so creating engaging content is key.
What You Can Do

• Focus on authentic, value-driven posts rather than promotional content

 
5. Short-form video content remains Instagram’s most favored format. High-performing Reels are pushed into the Explore page and non-followers’ feeds, increasing reach dramatically.
​What You Can Do

• Use trending sounds, captions, and effects to boost engagement on Reels.
• Short-form video remains king! Use trending audio, captions, and interactive stickers to make your content stand out.