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TECHNOLOGY

2026 August 20, 21

Level: High

Understanding Social Media Algorithms

by Simon Stopps

Explore how these digital tools do and don’t influence your online world

The word “algorithm” is used so often in online conversations that it has almost become a buzzword. When people hear the word “algorithm,” they often imagine a nasty secret plot. In reality, algorithms are just complex sets of instructions that tell computers how to make decisions. On social media, their aim is to prioritize which posts, videos or reels appear on users’ screens, not to manipulate users.

  Algorithms are used because platforms host so many posts that some kind of organizing system is necessary. The algorithm begins by showing you a small and varied selection of posts, and then it watches how you respond, paying attention to observable actions rather than private thoughts or personal feelings. Likes, comments and shares are strong signals. Scrolling past a post quickly, on the other hand, sends a clear signal that the content failed to hold your attention.

  Over time, the system learns your patterns of behavior without asking you any direct questions. Platforms usually can’t reliably perceive whether you like things or not, but they do understand what makes you react with great accuracy. By comparing your actions with those of other users, algorithms gradually align what you see with things you have responded to in the past.