Facebook news feed algorithm 2018

The Facebook News Feed algorithm is a complex system that determines what content to show to each user in their News Feed. In 2018, Facebook made several changes to the algorithm to prioritize high-quality content and reduce the spread of misinformation. Here are some key updates:

Ranking Signals:

  1. User Engagement: Facebook prioritizes content that generates high engagement, such as likes, comments, and shares.
  2. Relevance: The algorithm considers the relevance of the content to the user's interests and preferences.
  3. Timeliness: Facebook favors content that is recent and up-to-date.
  4. Source Quality: The algorithm takes into account the credibility and trustworthiness of the content's source.
  5. Click-Through Rate (CTR): Facebook considers the CTR of a post, as well as the number of clicks on the post's links.
  6. Time Spent Viewing: The algorithm looks at how long users spend viewing a post, as well as how many times they revisit the post.
  7. User Feedback: Facebook uses user feedback, such as hiding or reporting a post, to determine its relevance and quality.

Changes in 2018:

  1. Prioritizing Friends and Family: Facebook shifted its focus to prioritizing content from friends and family over content from publishers and brands.
  2. Reducing Clickbait: The algorithm was updated to reduce the spread of clickbait headlines and sensationalized content.
  3. Increasing Transparency: Facebook introduced a "Why am I seeing this post?" feature, which provides users with more information about why a particular post is appearing in their News Feed.
  4. Reducing Spam: The algorithm was updated to reduce the spread of spammy content, such as fake news and misinformation.
  5. Favoring High-Quality Content: Facebook prioritized high-quality content, such as content from reputable sources and content that is well-researched and informative.
  6. Reducing the Spread of Misinformation: The algorithm was updated to reduce the spread of misinformation and fake news.

Key Metrics:

  1. Engagement Rate: The percentage of users who engage with a post, such as liking, commenting, or sharing.
  2. Reach: The number of users who see a post.
  3. Click-Through Rate (CTR): The percentage of users who click on a post's links.
  4. Time Spent Viewing: The amount of time users spend viewing a post.
  5. User Feedback: The number of users who hide or report a post.

Best Practices:

  1. Create High-Quality Content: Focus on creating high-quality, engaging, and informative content that resonates with your audience.
  2. Use Relevant Keywords: Use relevant keywords and hashtags to help your content reach a wider audience.
  3. Encourage Engagement: Encourage engagement by asking questions, requesting feedback, and using calls-to-action.
  4. Monitor Your Performance: Monitor your performance using Facebook's built-in analytics tools and adjust your strategy accordingly.
  5. Focus on User Experience: Focus on providing a positive user experience by ensuring your content is easy to consume and understand.

By understanding the Facebook News Feed algorithm and following best practices, you can increase your chances of reaching your target audience and driving engagement on the platform.