Australia is reportedly considering a new rule for social media platforms that will allow users to control the feed manually. However, Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri has defended the social media platform’s algorithm-based feed. He says a chronological feed is a much worse option. The CEO said such an option would make Instagram less useful for the average person.
Instagram CEO says a chronological feed is a much worse option
Australian government is moving towards legislation that would let users opt out of algorithm-driven social media feeds. Speaking about it, the Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri said a chronological feed creates a worse experience for most people out there. According to the executive, accounts that post frequently, including companies and publishers, would quickly fill the feed simply because their content appears in the order it is published.
This would make it harder for creators to reach their intended audience. Posts from friends and family might get buried too. Mosseri said the user would basically miss more content. That also means the usage time will decrease sharply. He pointed to the platform’s own experience with chronological feeds, saying engagement fell by as much as 50% when users were switched away from algorithmic recommendations.
Instagram’s algorithmic feed shouldn’t be discarded
Instagram believes that ranking posts helps them reach their target audience better. However, the Australian government believes the user should have full control over the social media feed. Other countries are also working on similar rules, while some have already implemented them. In the Netherlands, for example, legislation requires users to be offered a choice, and Instagram does provide a chronological option.
The chronological option is still available to users today. However, there’s a big catch. The platform automatically switches to an algorithmic feed whenever it’s reopened. That basically means the user has to make that choice repeatedly. Mosseri’s comments underline why Instagram is unlikely to abandon its current system voluntarily. For the company, the algorithm is not simply a way of sorting posts. It is central to keeping users engaged and active on the platform.
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