Video summary

NEW Instagram Algorithm Update | 10 Leaks Direct from the CEO

Main summary

Key takeaways

News and Commentary

Overview

The video argues that Instagram’s ranking system and engagement patterns are changing quickly, and that creators should prioritize recent, high-impact algorithm and platform updates instead of outdated “growth hacks.”

The presenter frames several updates as “leaks” or direct insights attributed to Instagram head Adam Mosseri, supplemented by findings from a Metricool study analyzing 24+ million posts.

Main updates and takeaways

  1. Reels are outperforming single-image posts

    • According to the Metricool analysis, Reels get ~4x more interactions than single-image posts.
    • The speaker suggests single-image content is generally declining, with some exceptions where specific creators still succeed.

  2. Reel watch time has increased significantly

    • Average Reel watch time reportedly doubled year-over-year, from under ~4.5 seconds to over ~8.5 seconds.
    • Interpretation: audiences are becoming more willing to consume longer vertical video (more storytelling, less ultra-short content), similar to earlier TikTok trends.

  3. Asking for “likes” can reduce performance; prompts help other actions

    • Metricool findings: posts that ask for likes (“like this post”) get about ~5% fewer likes on average.
    • However, explicitly requesting other actions boosts performance:
      • Saves increase by ~92%
      • Comments increase by ~203%
    • The speaker attributes some comment spikes partly to familiarity with “comment keyword/DM automation” tools and tactics.

  4. Reel views are reportedly no longer declining

    • The speaker claims Reels views are up ~2% in the last year, after years of declines.
    • This is linked to a broader trend: Instagram video consumption is up ~30% year-over-year, suggesting growth is still viable via Reels.

  5. “Edit your comment” is a new engagement tool

    • Instagram now lets commenters edit their comment for ~15 minutes after posting.
    • The speaker suggests a light “gimmick” idea: prompt users to comment, then “edit their comment to make the response look crazy” (light gamification).

  6. Ability to reorder the profile grid

    • Users can drag/drop and reorder carousel/grid posts on their profile.
    • The speaker downplays its importance for most educational/personal-brand creators, but highlights potential value for:
      • Artists
      • Photographers
      • Portfolio-style accounts
      • Accounts that prioritize aesthetic sequencing

  7. Meta’s content moderation will rely heavily on AI—risk of abuse

    • A reported policy: 90% of content review handled by AI.
    • The speaker claims this led to mass reporting attacks targeting accounts, with some attackers allegedly using blackmail/ransom-like tactics to reverse enforcement.
    • The speaker urges users to protest and make noise if they disagree with the changes.

  8. Deleting bots/inactive followers won’t fix things (and may hurt)

    • Attributed to Adam Mosseri: removing bots/disengaged followers won’t help much and can sometimes hurt reach/views afterward.
    • Explanation: the algorithm may react to the sudden loss of follower count, rather than the intention behind bot removal.

  9. Carousels can include separate captions per slide

    • Instagram reportedly allows individual captions for each carousel slide.
    • Presented as a fun but not major growth-changing feature—useful for:
      • Photo dumps
      • Curated collections
      • Creative “revealed caption” formats

  10. There is no universal best time to post

    • Multiple studies are cited with conflicting “best time” windows.

    • The speaker (and Adam Mosseri, plus the channel’s own analysis) concludes: best time = when you’re available and finished creating.

    • Rationale: the algorithm emphasizes engagement quality and retention (watch time, likes, comments, saves/shares) more than strict recency.

Overall conclusion

The video’s core message is that Instagram increasingly rewards Reels engagement and longer attention spans, and that creators should be strategic with calls to action—avoid asking for likes, and instead ask for saves/comments/shares.

It also warns that some account-management and posting-timing “myths” are outdated, and that heavy AI-driven moderation can introduce vulnerabilities that users may need to actively challenge.

Presenters / contributors

  • Brock Johnson (main presenter)
  • Adam Mosseri (attributed source for multiple updates)
  • Metricool (study referenced: 24+ million posts)

Original video