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Social media glossary

Feed

The main scrolling stream of posts a user sees when they open a social app.

A feed is the main scrolling stream of posts you see when you open a social app. It can show content from accounts you follow, recommended posts from accounts you don't, ads and suggested topics.

Most feeds today are ranked by an algorithm rather than shown in strict time order. The platform predicts what you are most likely to engage with and puts it near the top. Some apps still offer a chronological or following-only view.

For brands, getting into the feed consistently means posting content that earns quick engagement, showing up regularly and keeping a cohesive look so people recognize your posts as they scroll.

Questions about Feed

What is the difference between a feed and a newsfeed?

They mean largely the same thing. Newsfeed was Facebook's original name for its main stream of updates. Feed is the more general term used across platforms for the scrolling stream of posts you see when you open an app.

Is my social media feed chronological?

Usually not by default. Most major platforms rank posts by predicted interest. Several offer a way to switch to a following or most-recent view, but the default home feed is typically algorithmic.

How do I get my posts seen more in the feed?

Post consistently, at times your audience is active, with content that sparks comments, saves and shares. Reply to comments quickly and use formats the platform is currently favoring, such as short video or carousels.

Keep exploring

More social media terms.

All 108 terms
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Explore Page

Instagram’s discovery feed, which shows content from accounts you don’t follow based on your interests.

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Follower

Someone who subscribes to an account to see its posts in their feed.

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