Does a certain person repeatedly appear in your "stories"? Is this person often among the first to like the content you publish? Then you might have a mystery fan! Sympathy is most likely mutual. Check!
Of course, it has already happened to you that a certain person appears to you often or more often than the others you follow on Instagram. Could this reveal some affection or is it just a coincidence? We reveal.
Understanding the basics of algorithms
Instagram algorithms work based on different parameters. One of the main ones is, of course, how much time you devote to the content of a certain user. This means that Instagram will show you the content of those users whose "stories" or posts you follow more carefully and for a longer period of time. The main goal of Instagram is for you to spend as much time as possible viewing certain content. Therefore, the content on which users spend a lot of time is also content with a large reach. Those that you personally devote more time to, and those that Instagram "forces" on you.
Simply put, the content that appears to us more often is the content that you spend more time on. This is the basis of the algorithm, which, of course, is enhanced by certain other factors that may indicate a possible one-sided or even two-sided sympathy.
Mutual interactions
Of course, Instagram connects "users" with a greater number of mutual interactions. If you comment on someone's content and they respond to that content with a reaction, it creates a bond between you. This way, your content will also be much more likely to be shown to this user. That's why really successful influencers and their teams "reply" to practically all comments and thus create connections. Not because of their "friendliness", accessibility, but mainly because it all pays off in the number of likes in the future.
When you interact with someone, there is a high probability that an "invisible" bond will begin to build between you, which will make you "notice" this person many times both on the "feed" and other elements of Instagram. You definitely know this "yo-yo" effect, or you've probably already noticed it.
If a very famous and influential person replies to you, and this person appears to you more often, this certainly does not mean that "something" is happening between you. Unless …
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Common interests & common locations
Instagram certainly shows and connects individuals with similar interests or individuals from your community of interest. And it shows you content similar to that to which you yourself have repeatedly given a certain reaction and shown interest.
Simply put, if you have more interests in common with a user, follow similar users and follow similar content, there is a high probability that the algorithm will start connecting you with this type of user.
The same applies to locations, i.e. if you move in similar locations with a certain user. In this way, neighbors and colleagues and, of course, friends with whom you often meet in the physical world will appear more often.
You have most likely noticed this effect if you are connected to people from the same neighborhood (for example, neighbors) and the algorithm "prefers" to show them to you, even if you have no special affinity for them. The latter detects that you are "geographically" connected to this user and shows you their content more often.
A similar effect will occur if you have similar interests and, for example, follow similar users or profiles. The algorithm will offer you their posts more often.
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Basic algorithm signs that tell you if someone likes you
In the lines above, we learned the basics of operation Instagram algorithm from which we can derive the following:
– The strongest bond between users is established through 1:1 communication via the messaging system. If you use Instagram for communication, then it will show you the posts of people with whom you communicate through it very often, or every post in the first positions. It is the so-called first round of relationships.
- This link is followed by comments and liking of posts, where mutual interactions are important - or the so-called "like for like" or comment for comment. If you have established this relationship with the user, then the probability that you will "appear" to each other several times is high.
- You will also be shown users to whom you spend more time. This means that you personally give them more attention. You look at their stories in their entirety and don't skip over them.
- One of the key signs is also visiting the individual's profile. The algorithm detects this as one of the key activities with which you expose the user to the algorithm, or your interest in his posts.
When is it true crush?
We learned how the Instagram algorithm works and now you understand why some users appear more than others. You also learned that certain users who are also involved with Instagram professionally often react to different things, just because of the level and number of contacts they want to establish with other profiles. Don't expect heartfelt affection from big accounts.
If you have common interests, visit the same places, have a similar circle of friends, are of a similar age, Instagram will find your "soulmate". And sooner or later the crush will be mutual.