Contents
- What is an activity feed on social networks?
- Actions displayed in the activity feed
- Activity feed in VKontakte
- History of the Following feature in Instagram
- Current state of the activity feed
- Importance for marketers and SMM managers
- Factors influencing social media algorithms
What is an activity feed on social networks?
An activity feed on social networks is a summary of user actions, groups, and channels occurring in their accounts. It is an important tool that allows subscribers to stay updated on the latest events and updates from those they follow. In the activity feed, one can see new posts from communities, comments, likes, as well as new friends of their contacts. This functionality enables users to quickly track changes in their subscriptions throughout the day.
Actions displayed in the activity feed
The activity feed displays various actions that your friends take, such as:
- New posts from communities.
- Likes and comments on posts.
- Addition of new friends.
Activity feed in VKontakte
In the social network VKontakte, users have the ability to customize their activity feed using specific categories. For example, they can track who follows whom and who leaves comments for whom. This helps users not to miss important events in the lives of their friends and favorite groups.
History of the Following feature in Instagram
From 2011 to 2019, Instagram had an activity feed feature called Following. It allowed users to see which posts their friends liked and commented on, as well as who they followed. However, this feature was removed by the developers as it was unpopular among users. Many were even unaware of its existence or had never visited that tab. Furthermore, viewing likes and comments from other users was perceived as an invasion of privacy.
Current state of the activity feed
Today, the activity feed in Instagram is gradually becoming less prominent, giving way to more popular formats such as stories and Reels. Users in VKontakte also report that they rarely pay attention to their activity feed as they struggle to understand its functionality. This indicates that the tool has many nuances that depend on the specific social network, and therefore it is worth studying each feed separately.
Importance for marketers and SMM managers
For marketers and SMM managers, the activity feed is an important tool for increasing the visibility of their content. The more interactions (likes, comments, shares) a post generates, the higher the likelihood of it appearing in the activity feed of subscribers. This helps to retain audience attention and increase reach.
Factors influencing social media algorithms
When forming the activity feed, social networks take into account several factors, including:
- Time of post publication.
- User's interaction history with the account.
- Reactions from other users to the post.
However, it is important to remember that the number of posts should be optimal. An excessive amount of information can overwhelm subscribers and lead them to hide your content from their feed. Additionally, if posts are published too frequently, it can negatively impact the visibility of your account.