Instagram Reverses Reduced Reach Algorithm for Feed Posts Re-Shared to Stories

Here’s an interesting update in Instagram’s ongoing effort to stop people re-sharing feed posts to Stories.

Over the last few weeks, amid escalating tensions in Palestine, various Instagram users have noted that their posts are not being seen in the app, which some have equated to a form of censorship, implying that Instagram has been deliberately seeking to limit pro-Palestinian voices in the app.

Instagram has strongly denied any form of censorship in this respect, but it has identified a problem impacting the reach of such content – a recent algorithm change to reduce the reach of feed posts that have been re-shared to Stories.

As reported by BBC: “The app had favoured original content in its “stories” feature over existing, re-shared posts, but will now give them equal treatment, it said.”

Instagram has been testing various ways to stop feed post re-sharing in Stories, even going so far as to remove the option entirely for some users.

As Instagram explained in January: “We’ve seen from research that people prefer to see original photos and videos in Stories from the people they care about. The goal of our test is to better understand how people feel about this type of content and ultimately improve the Stories experience.”

So while Instagram’s intention has been to improve the Stories experience and stop users simply seeing a duplication of their main feed within Stories, it’s also, unwittingly, ended up reducing the reach of posts around important events and issues. So now, Instagram is rolling back that change, which will ensure that re-shared feed posts continue to get the same amount of reach as any other Stories content – for now, at least!

Facebook Announces New Features and Support Initiatives for Pride Month

With June being Pride Month, Facebook has announced a range of new in-app features and tools to help users participate in the event, as well as new support initiatives to help provide guidance and advice for the LGBTQ+ community.

First off, Facebook has added a range of new celebratory features in its main app, including post backgrounds, custom avatars and stickers for both News Feed posts and Facebook Stories.

Facebook’s also added a new, colourful, animated Pride logo in the app, which was designed by Berlin-based artist Jasmina El Bouamraoui.

Over on Instagram, the platform has also added a range of new stickers for feed posts and Stories, while it’s also bringing back rainbow hashtags for the event.

As you can see above, when you use a Pride-related hashtag on your posts, it will switch to a rainbow text display on the published post, while you’ll also see a rainbow-coloured ring around your Instagram Stories when you add the same hashtags into your Stories frames.

In addition to this, Facebook’s also launching a custom hashtag feed for #Pride which will showcase content from related groups, publishers and public figures, while it’s also adding new Pride backgrounds and chat themes on both Messenger and Messenger Kids.

Pride Month is an important opportunity to show support for marginalised communities – and for Facebook in particular, that’s a key point, given that it now manages the largest connected collection of humans in history. It’s important that everybody feels welcome, and supported within the company’s apps, while Facebook also provides the best opportunity for the general public to show their support for people from all communities, which can help to further address concerns around inclusion and acceptance.

Facebook also notes that more than 25 million people on Facebook are now part of at least one of the 34,000 public groups that support LGBTQ+ people.

Have fun with your social content this month and have a happy Pride!

LinkedIn Shares Tips on Effective Brand Marketing in New Guide

Are you looking to maximise your branding efforts on LinkedIn?

The platform is seeing record levels of engagement and is now up to 740 million total members, while on-platform activity is likely to ramp up throughout the year as the vaccine roll-out continues on and more industries look to get back on track in the wake of the pandemic.

That could provide a range of new opportunities for your business – but in order to capitalise on such, maximising brand awareness is key. And if you are looking to improve your LinkedIn standing, this new guide could help.

This week, LinkedIn has published a simple, 7-page pocket guide to effective branding on the platform, which outlines its various ad features and targeting tools to help you get your message in front of the right audience.