[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2022\/05\/18\/instagram-chronological-feed\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2022\/05\/18\/instagram-chronological-feed\/","headline":"Return of the timeline: Instagram chronological feed is back","name":"Return of the timeline: Instagram chronological feed is back","description":"Learn how the change in Instagram functionality impacts users and offers brands the ability to optimize marketing efforts to boost engagement.","datePublished":"2022-05-18","dateModified":"2022-05-17","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/contributor\/josh-maday\/#Person","name":"Josh Maday","url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/contributor\/josh-maday\/","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/bd7e8b81e77548806af83e58df7c2e59?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/bd7e8b81e77548806af83e58df7c2e59?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"The Future of Customer Engagement and Experience","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"http:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/logo-fcee-schema-app.png","url":"http:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/logo-fcee-schema-app.png","width":278,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Instagram-chronological_1200x375.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Instagram-chronological_1200x375.jpg","height":375,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2022\/05\/18\/instagram-chronological-feed\/","about":["Customer Engagement","Marketing","Marketing","Social Media"],"wordCount":996,"keywords":["Brand Marketing","Instagram","Social Commerce","Social Media"],"articleBody":"For the first time since 2016, Instagram users can opt to view their feed chronologically rather than based on the platform\u2019s algorithms. The new dropdown menu under the Instagram logo allows users to choose between two additional feed filtering configurations: \u201cfollowing\u201d and \u201cfavorites.\u201d Instagram says it wants to give users greater choice and control over what they see in their feed.Maybe it goes without saying, but I\u2019ll say it anyway: Any changes to social media algorithms and functionality are likely to impact how brands engage with fans and reach new users.Social feed commerce is enormously important for brands to stay relevant and compete. Chronological feeds can be a brand\u2019s best friend.Showing posts in the order in which they were posted allows social media marketing teams to optimize campaigns and targeted content by knowing not only what kinds of content customers want, but also when they will most likely be online and most likely to engage with that content.When algorithms become a screener for all content and shuffle posts out of chronological order, it can mean that users take longer to find timely content, or they may not see it at all. If they do see it, the timeliness may have expired.As with SEO teams adjusting to Google algorithm updates, so marketing teams must adapt to changes like Instagram moving to the \u201cHome,\u201d \u201cFollowing,\u201d and \u201cFavorites\u201d feed options. And, as always, new changes and challenges present new opportunities.First, let\u2019s go over the basics of what Instagram’s chronological feeds look like.      What is social commerce? Definition, examples, stats                Social commerce is the use of a social platform for e-commerce sales, and it's huge: By 2027, it's projected to drive $604 billion in sales.      What are Instagram\u2019s \u201cfollowing\u201d and \u201cfavorites\u201d feeds?Here\u2019s a quick breakdown of the difference between the new Instagram feed options:Home is the feed driven by algorithms that has been the only option since 2016. Algorithms select and present content based on user information with the intention of driving engagement.Following refers to the return of the option to view your feed chronologically, the order in which content is posted, without the influence of algorithmic ranking for other reasons.Favorites is the feed option that allows users to view up to 50 favorited accounts, offering users another method to segment or categorize their feed.Critics have raised concerns about social media platforms using algorithms to rank content that values engagement and clicks without regard to the nature of the content. They argue that the practice may have contributed to problems ranging from increased mental health problems among young people to extremist radicalization.      Social commerce growth: A matter of trust                Shopping on social media platforms is expected to increase three times as fast as traditional e-commerce, but brands need to build customer trust to boost adoption.      Can I set the chronological feed as the default?The short answer is: No. Currently, the new feed settings cannot be made the default for your Instagram account. The algorithm-driven \u201cHome\u201d setting remains the default feed option. Users must manually choose to change their feed to \u201cFollowing\u201d (chronological) or \u201cFavorites\u201d settings.Ultimately, the setting difference isn\u2019t likely to impact the experience of those who don\u2019t use Instagram very often. The most vocal group demanding a default chronological feed tend to be \u201cpower users\u201d of the platform.How to switch to Instagram\u2019s chronological feedSo, how do you change your feed from the algorithmic \u201cHome\u201d feed to the chronological \u201cFollowing\u201d feed?At the top of the app (this doesn\u2019t work on the desktop\/browser version), you\u2019ll see the Instagram name logo in the upper left. Next to that is a down arrow indicating a dropdown menu. Tap on the arrow to drop the menu. You should see this:Tap your chosen feed type and scroll your timeline, relatively algorithm-free.Tapping \u201cFavorites\u201d will allow you to curate a list of up to 50 accounts to narrow your core list of content creators.Remember, you\u2019ll have to choose your feed type each time you open the app. It\u2019s a clever move by Instagram to create just a little bit of friction, a slight inconvenience, that may perhaps wear on users so that leaving their feed to the algorithms\u2014therefore more scrolling, greater engagement, and more ads\u2014is just easier.But, users still have the choice. It would be interesting to see the metrics to gauge whether interest in the chronological feed sustains or wanes over time.      Like and buy: How to strike gold with social commerce                Social platforms provide brands with a unique window to meet shoppers where they are most engaged. Find out how brands can build a profitable social commerce strategy.      Instagram chronological feed: Optimizing for engagementUltimately, the interest (or lack thereof) in using the chronological \u201cFollowing\u201d feed will play an important role in how brands can optimize profiles for engagement.When Instagram feeds are set to chronological and users see posts in the order they are posted, social media marketing campaigns can target certain days, times, and frequencies to post content to maximize reach and engagement at more accurate times.However, when algorithmic social feeds sort, rank, and prioritize posts for users to engage with, Instagram marketing strategies have to create and share relevant content for algorithms at least as much as for the humans it’s intended to reach. No doubt, this can make reaching the right customer at the right time, in the right place, with the right message a lot more challenging in real time.One way to capture more branded search intent is to use Instagram account branded hashtags to reach people searching for your brand.Marketers who are nimble and rapidly adapt to changes like the return of Instagram’s chronological feed will win competitive edge.  If you don’t roll out the red carpet for your customers,your competition will.Craft experiences consumers love.Get started HERE."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2022","item":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2022\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"05","item":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2022\/\/05\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"18","item":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2022\/\/05\/\/18\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Return of the timeline: Instagram chronological feed is back","item":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2022\/05\/18\/instagram-chronological-feed\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]