I just heard about this news from Instagram users who are posting "Turn ON Notification" button, which is located at the upper right corner of an Instagram post. IG users are now worried because their followers wont be able to see their post at their IG news feed because Instagram will change its news feed format and it will prioritize post that are popular. It looks like that someone at Instagram leaked the news intentionally just to hear the comments of their users.
I did some check and saw that the IG change is not yet effective, but many IG users are already concerned about these changes on Instagram and they say that the new format will start tomorrow.
Although that the new Instagram update and that "turn on notif" button is not yet announced if it will really happen tomorrow. I wonder who started those Turn On Notif post on Instagram.
The source of news is from a news update from Instagram's blog last March 15th.
http://blog.instagram.com/post/141107034797/160315-news
"The order of photos and videos in your feed will be based on the likelihood you’ll be interested in the content, your relationship with the person posting and the timeliness of the post. As we begin, we’re focusing on optimizing the order — all the posts will still be there, just in a different order."
It means that Instagram will just show the photos or videos of IG users you follow based on your behavior on IG, if you post about cats on IG or you always search for photos of cats on IG, then IG will record your behavior based on the topics you are interested, then it will prioritize similar post on your IG follow news feed showing the same topic, for example -- cats.
The same order is felt at Instagram's EXPLORE POST section, Instagram records my viewing behavior whenever I search and look for photos and videos about skateboarding, then Instagram will remember my last search result and then they will suggest and show media content at the EXPLORE POST news feed that is about skateboarding.
This kind of behavioral targeting will be a good tool for Instagram to target their users for SPONSORED POST at the News Feed. Thats why they want to have change on the format of the news feed.
IG users, business owners and publishers or bloggers will be challenged to this new kind of format, they will be attracted to use Instagram's ad service to boost a post to gain more views and engagement with their followers. It means that users will pay for a sponsored post ad if they want to be noticed by their followers. We've seen this before during the Facebook Page sponsored post and boost service at Facebook. I have a big feeling that they will do the same here on Instagram.
But Instagram might postpone the big change, according to their Tweet at
https://twitter.com/instagram/status/714509569918169088
"We're listening and we assure you nothing is changing with your feed right now. We promise to let you know when changes roll out broadly"
It feels that Instagram will do some delays about the change, and might study more about the algorithm change and its effect to the users, but Im sure that the roll out will be soon and later on we will be surprised that IG will push for that plan.
IG users can't do boycott the free service of Instagram, Im sure these users wont abandon Instagram, especially those who have 1,000 followers and the established ones. Its hard to leave our followers behind.
But if this thing happen, Im sure other photo-video social networking sites or app might take advantage of it and users might move out of Instagram, others might move to Snapchat, and other Instagram-like apps.
Lets prepare for that change.
Its a challenge from Instagram and we have to face it...
IG users can't do boycott the free service of Instagram, Im sure these users wont abandon Instagram, especially those who have 1,000 followers and the established ones. Its hard to leave our followers behind.
But if this thing happen, Im sure other photo-video social networking sites or app might take advantage of it and users might move out of Instagram, others might move to Snapchat, and other Instagram-like apps.
Lets prepare for that change.
Its a challenge from Instagram and we have to face it...
