The Instagram algorithm: friend or foe? Maya Kornyeyeva
sharing art is dictated by the Instagram algorithm, a concept A blank canvas. feared and despised by many. As the brush touches its “It’s kind of scary putting surface, the world fades away. art out there. I really have to Images flow from the artist’s be confident about the pieces mind and into their hand, and in that I post,” said Sanjna Sood, a seemingly no time, they realize sophomore. “Once it’s up, I just sit the work is finished. there staring at the screen waiting Soon it will be up on for something to happen, which is Instagram. However, there is still definitely one of the most nervethe question of how many people racking experiences.” will actually see it. Sood is a self-taught artist who The uncertainty that comes started her account fairly recently. from posting online is typical Since its inception, she has for Instagram artists. Whether cleared the 1K follower mark and they are successful or just getting is steadily gaining popularity for comfortable with the algorithm, her K-pop-inspired digital pieces. there are many different aspects to “It was honestly sort of consider when it comes to posting surprising how quickly you can artwork online. become friends with other artists, Each artist wants to reach a especially the ones you idolize. It large audience and have their usually happens when you follow work shared, reposted, liked, and them and they immediately follow saved. Despite the efforts made you back, and then you start to achieve this, a vast majority sharing each other’s work on your of these desires are out of their stories,” Sood said. hands. Rather, the process of According to Sood, reaching a
Jordan Dooley
Eli Wallow
big audience is more important to the algorithm than the likes a post receives. “If I receive 200 likes for a post but reach an audience of 3,000 people, that’s much better than getting 400 likes but only reaching 550 people. Saving is also crucial, as it acts like a ‘super like’ that Instagram uses to create your explore page,” Sood said. The explore page is based upon the content that the user interacts with. Using that information, the Instagram algorithm compiles a list of different posts that have the greatest likelihood of catching a user’s eye. Many artists also find inspiration on their explore page. What goes into an artist’s feed or profile is a factor that requires plenty of consideration as well. One must often refine their work based upon what receives the most attention on their feed, as sophomore Jordan Dooley noted. “The art on my account that gets the most notice is definitely
Sanjna Sood
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