Al-got-NO-rithm: What are these algorithms and why do they control my social media life?

T H E  S K I N N Y
Algorithms are code behind the "curtain" that determine which posts, tweets, accounts and ads get promoted on people's social media feeds.

A  L I T T L E  M O R E  B E D A Z Z L E
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn all use these algorithms to control which content you see, errrhhmmm strike that, to better provide relevant content to their users. Their aim is to make your user experience better so that you keep coming back. And in my astute opinion (I'm a nobody here), their other aim is to make money off paid advertisements and sponsored posts and keep those paid participants coming back for more action.

T H E  D E E T S
Facebook. The zenith of social media has spent a tremendous amount of effort (read money, people capital, and money) to create an algorithm that makes your top likes, friends, potential likes, and potential friends rise to the top. They purport its a science and a worthy cause. They don't want you to miss out on what they know is truly important to you. {insert a bit of skepticism here} But really...the social media landscape is littered with garbage posts, repetitive junk, and fake accounts all vying for your attention. A little help to sift through the endless stream of information was an eventuality. And the day has come and we shall never go back to the Facebook of yesteryear, nor the Instagram, nor the LinkedIn...this is the way things have to be.

Sure, if you are like me, I miss a more simple social media world. But since my kindergarten physical education teacher joined the ranks of social media users and everyone's cat now has an Instagram account, I need a little help bringing my BFF's party pics and my favorite restaurant's grand re-opening announcement up to the top. I could complain and pout (as many in the social media world are), but instead I say to myself "Self, you can't go back. Let's figure this out, and rock it."

So how does one rock the algorithms you ask? Well, I'm learning here too. Here's what I've found in my initial assessment and reading through other's experiences. Engagement is key. Real engagement is even better. The more robotic your actions are (same hashtags, liking 100 posts in 30 seconds, following 2500 new people in a day), the more you are going to be flagged and punished.

Me: Likes for you! Likes for you! Likes for you! Likes for you...wait a damn minute.
Facebook: Go sit in your corner and think about what you've done.
Me: Was it the liking lots of pages? Posting my business page on lots of walls? Or inviting lots of strangers to like my page? I don't know where I went wrooooonnnnngggg...
Facebook: :-| (mean, stern face)

Actually, there are TONS of ways you can end up in Facebook jail or Instagram Shadow Ban Land. I won't go into them all here. You can do an online search for the exhaustive list. But I think saying don't be robotic and don't do shady stuff pretty much captures it. Be authentic. Refresh your posts, likes, hashtags, and hashtag from the heart. Awwww, so sweet!

Happy Socializing,
​Kim