Relying solely on a chronological feed of followed accounts limits growth. The "For You" page, despite its pitfalls, is a powerful discovery tool. The ideal strategy involves using both: a curated feed for engagement and a discovery algorithm for finding new, compelling voices.

Social media algorithms amplify negativity by optimizing for "revealed preference" (what you click on, e.g., car crashes). AI models, however, operate on aspirational choice (what you explicitly ask for). This fundamental difference means AI can reflect a more complex and wholesome version of humanity.

Social media algorithms can be trained. By actively blocking or marking unwanted content as "not interested," users can transform their "for you" page from a source of distracting content into a valuable, curated feed of recommended information.

Contrary to some growth-hacking advice, stuffing captions with keywords or hiding them in videos is considered spammy behavior by Instagram's algorithm. This practice will result in your content being actively penalized and shown to fewer people.

The value of a large, pre-existing audience is decreasing. Powerful platform algorithms are becoming so effective at identifying and distributing high-quality content that a new creator with great material can get significant reach without an established following. This levels the playing field and reduces the incumbent advantage.

Users can now manually add or remove interest categories to customize their feed algorithm. This allows creators with a well-defined niche to be directly recommended to users who have explicitly expressed interest in that topic, leveling the playing field for smaller accounts to get discovered.

Obsessing over a visually perfect Instagram grid is a waste of time that harms reach. Since the vast majority of users discover content in the feed, creators should focus on making individual posts that perform well, rather than sacrificing engagement for a curated grid aesthetic.

When platforms like Instagram roll out a new feature, such as the awkward long horizontal format, marketers should adopt it immediately. Platforms aggressively push new features to drive adoption, rewarding early adopters with increased visibility and reach, even if the feature itself is disliked by users and creators.

Instead of reactively trying to please algorithms, proactively identify the best 'doorways'—specific platforms and content formats—to reach your ideal audience. This shifts the focus from chasing reach to strategically choosing where you appear and how you present your brand.