{"id":5780,"date":"2024-05-14T12:43:14","date_gmt":"2024-05-14T10:43:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/propaganda3.it\/tiktok-instagram-and-social-algorithms-are-we-all-slaves-to-the-video-feed\/"},"modified":"2026-03-27T14:19:46","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T13:19:46","slug":"tiktok-instagram-and-social-algorithms-are-we-all-slaves-to-the-video-feed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/propaganda3.it\/en\/tiktok-instagram-and-social-algorithms-are-we-all-slaves-to-the-video-feed\/","title":{"rendered":"TikTok, Instagram, and social algorithms: are we all slaves to the video feed"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you manage an Instagram<\/strong> or TikTok<\/strong> page for a brand or business\u2014or if you simply enjoy sharing content with your followers\u2014you\u2019ve likely noticed a shift: following the latest social media algorithm<\/strong> updates, video content<\/strong> is being prioritized far more than photographs, graphics, or any other static content.<\/p>\n

The numbers speak for themselves: compared to images and carousels, videos<\/strong> perform better across the board, driving higher interaction rates and reaching a vast number of users. There is a specific reason for this. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels have redefined how we consume media by shifting their algorithms<\/strong>, forcing brands and creators to re-evaluate their content strategies to prioritize moving images.<\/p>\n

This article explores the dominance of video<\/strong> within the social media<\/strong> ecosystem, with a specific focus on the algorithms<\/strong> governing TikTok<\/strong> and Instagram<\/strong> Reels<\/strong>. It also offers insights on how to maximize visibility and engagement through strategically optimized video content.<\/p>\n

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Understanding social media algorithm<\/h2>\n

The algorithms<\/strong> used by Instagram<\/strong> and TikTok<\/strong> are designed to prioritize content<\/strong> that generates the highest engagement<\/strong>, making video<\/strong> one of the most powerful tools for reaching and connecting with an audience. Understanding how these algorithms work can help businesses and marketing professionals leverage these platforms effectively to reach their target audience.<\/p>\n

But why have algorithms chosen to favor video content specifically? In reality, the reason is more psychological<\/strong> than technological. According to a study by Synthesia<\/a>, users retain 95% of a message<\/strong> when it is delivered through video, compared to only 10% when the message is text-based<\/strong>. This happens because the human brain<\/strong> processes video content up to 60,000 times faster than text<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Both Instagram (Meta) and TikTok are well aware of these statistics, which is why they both continuously evolve and update their algorithms. However, there are substantial differences<\/strong> between the two platforms regarding how they recommend content to users<\/strong>, particularly within their respective “For You<\/em>” sections. Let’s look at some of them.<\/p>\n

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Instagram Reels vs TikTok: key algorithmic differences<\/h2>\n

Although Instagram Reels and TikTok are both pillars of the video content landscape, their algorithms<\/strong> weigh different parameters<\/strong> when “choosing” which content to display on For You pages.<\/p>\n

One of the most significant differences concerns account authority<\/strong>. While the Instagram Reels algorithm tends to favor content posted by accounts that already have a large and established following, TikTok is much more “democratic”: even an account with only 10 followers can go viral if they post the right video.<\/p>\n

Another discrepancy lies not in the video itself, but in the metadata provided in the post descriptions<\/strong>. On Instagram Reels, captions<\/strong><\/em> help users better understand or dive deeper into the content, but they don’t heavily influence the algorithm’s reach. Conversely, TikTok places immense value on this information, using it to categorize content and even make it accessible to the visually impaired.<\/p>\n

Because of this, TikTok rewards accounts that provide detailed information<\/strong> beneath their videos, specifically through the use of keywords<\/strong><\/em> and descriptive text.<\/p>\n

Despite these differences, TikTok<\/strong> and Reels<\/strong> also share many common parameters<\/strong>, which are crucial to consider before cross-posting the same video on both platforms.<\/p>\n

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Instagram Reels + TikTok: what they have in common<\/h2>\n

Creating a video that performs well on both Instagram Reels and TikTok isn’t easy, but it is certainly possible, especially if, during the recording process, we prioritize the features favored by both algorithms<\/strong>. These elements can help us achieve strong results across key metrics, such as:<\/p>\n