Skip to content
Support Us

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Shutterstock/BigLike Images

Instagram is changing the way you see those selfie and food photos

It’s following Facebook’s lead by introducing curated timelines for users.

FOLLOWING THE LEAD of its owner Facebook, Instagram will soon be introducing curated newsfeed which will place relevant photos at the top.

Currently, Instagram displays photos in chronological order but according to the company, its users miss on average 70% of their feeds, according to its post announcing the news.

While it didn’t say whether or not you’ll be able to keep the current format like Facebook, it said it will soon order your photos “to show the moments we believe you will care about the most”.

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 timelessness of the post. As we begin, we’re focusing on optimising the order – all the posts will be there, just in a different order.

Using an algorithm to display content is a feature used by many sites like Facebook, which had its own in place for years, and Twitter which introduced a ‘while you were away’ feature highlighting certain tweets you missed.

In Instagram’s case, this change could be done as a way to increase engagement, some reports suggest that overall engagement with the app has gone down in recent times.

As with any change, people aren’t happy with the news with one commenting “This is a horrible idea. I can see myself not using Instagram anymore if this happens. LAME” and another saying “Damnit Instagram, don’t do this. Don’t use the Facebook algorithm. Please for the love of god stop”.

Read: With the Sony PlayStation VR, virtual reality is having its iPod moment >

Read: Now you will have to be cautious about misspelling websites names >

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
8 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Collins
    Favourite John Collins
    Report
    Mar 16th 2016, 12:05 PM

    Oh how I miss the days before all this crap.

    57
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Teddington
    Favourite Teddington
    Report
    Mar 16th 2016, 1:22 PM

    If you really miss it then just don’t sign up for it, I don’t have Instagram as I fundamentally don’t understand why I couldn’t just upload a photo through Facebook if I was that way inclined.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Collins
    Favourite John Collins
    Report
    Mar 16th 2016, 4:31 PM

    I don’t have any social media. Only have Twitter for the Journal because it’s the only way you can comment which is ridiculous.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shelly Levine
    Favourite Shelly Levine
    Report
    Mar 16th 2016, 11:45 AM

    Oh for Christsake just read a book!

    32
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bob Freeman
    Favourite Bob Freeman
    Report
    Mar 16th 2016, 12:01 PM

    Oh for Christsake just read a newspaper!

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nollaig Kelly
    Favourite Nollaig Kelly
    Report
    Mar 16th 2016, 2:10 PM

    Oh for christsake read a comic

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shane Walsh
    Favourite Shane Walsh
    Report
    Mar 16th 2016, 12:21 PM

    Back in the Day you would of had to prepare your meal, then you would of had to buy Film for your camera, then you would of had to take a Photograph of the meal, go get it developed and then get yourself an envelope and stamp and post it off to whoever you want who might have a mild interest in your dinner and hope for a letter in return with a drawing of a thumbs up.

    But if you had lots and lots of friends then you would of had to buy hundreds of stamps and envelopes and would be constantly buying film and batteries for your Camera. It would of been tiring stuff.

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Not_Rod_Ten©
    Favourite Not_Rod_Ten©
    Report
    Mar 16th 2016, 12:20 PM

    The Internet is a pain in the hole

    19
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds