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What are social media algorithms and how work?
Updated: 11-Apr-2025

Social media algorithms are automated systems that determine what content you see on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok. These algorithms prioritize posts based on factors like relevance, engagement, timeliness, and user behavior. They track what you like, share, watch, and interact with to predict what you’ll find most interesting. Posts from friends, trending topics, or sponsored ads are filtered accordingly.

Each platform uses slightly different criteria. The goal is to keep you engaged and scrolling. While algorithms personalize feeds, they also influence what users know, believe, and buy—shaping culture, politics, and attention in powerful and sometimes controversial ways.

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