A SocialPilot study analyzing millions of Instagram posts found a surprising inverse relationship between hashtag use and reach. Posts with zero hashtags performed 23% better on average, and using more hashtags correlated with receiving fewer views.

Instagram is testing a default home feed composed entirely of Reels, reflecting that video now drives over 50% of time spent on the platform. This move solidifies its shift to a short-form video app, forcing brands still focused on static images to adapt or lose significant organic reach.

According to Instagram's CEO, users now share more content via direct messages daily than they post to the public feed. This fundamental shift makes 'shareability' the most critical metric for creators aiming for growth, prioritizing content that compels users to send it to friends.

Unlike Twitter which may reward niche wit, Instagram virality depends on broad shareability. A product management meme account grew to 55k followers by focusing on relatable tropes (e.g., the PM vs. engineer dynamic) that professionals in adjacent roles would share with their peers, expanding the content's reach beyond its core audience.

When a social platform like LinkedIn introduces a new feature, such as "comment impressions," it's a direct signal of what behavior the algorithm will now favor. Prioritizing and testing these new features immediately can lead to outsized reach as you align with the platform's strategic goals.

For the first time, Instagram is testing clickable links in Reel captions. This is a monumental shift from its long-held strategy of keeping users within the app at all costs. If rolled out, it could transform Instagram into a primary traffic driver for businesses, fundamentally changing its value.

Data reveals Instagram Reels now achieve double the reach (30%) and engagement of traditional photo or carousel posts (13-14%). With Instagram's head confirming the app is being redesigned around Reels and DMs, marketers should shift all focus to video and deprioritize static image content.

LinkedIn reported double-digit growth in video uploads but notably omitted data on video engagement or watch time. This suggests that while marketers are following the platform's advice to post video, it may not be yielding results. Marketers must analyze what platforms *don't* report.

Cues achieved rapid growth by targeting overlooked markets (Taiwan, Hong Kong) on an underutilized social platform, Threads. They created hundreds of accounts managed by an 'intern army' to post use cases daily, exploiting the platform's generous organic reach before it became saturated or monetized.