Reach & Discovery
Algorithm
The ranking system a platform uses to decide which content to show each user, and in what order.
A social media algorithm is the ranking system that decides what each user sees. It scores content using signals like watch time, early engagement, relevance, recency and relationship, then serves the posts most likely to keep that user engaged.
Modern algorithms are largely interest-based, not follower-based: strong content can reach far beyond your audience (as on TikTok and Reels), which is why even new accounts can go viral.
You don’t beat the algorithm with tricks — you align with it by making content people watch, save and share. Every platform’s growth guide explains the specific signals that matter.