Have you ever noticed that your social media feed doesn’t always show you the content you care about most? Maybe you’ve stopped seeing genealogy or family history posts, or your friend’s updates seem to have vanished. The culprit? Algorithms.
Algorithms are the invisible engines driving your social media experience. They determine what content appears in your feed based on your behavior and interactions. So, let’s break down how they work and why you might be missing out on posts you care about.
What Is an Algorithm?
An algorithm is a set of rules or instructions that a platform uses to decide which content to show you. Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok use algorithms to personalize your experience. The goal is to show you content you’re most likely to engage with—keeping you on the platform longer.
How Algorithms Decide What You See
Algorithms analyze your interactions, including:
Likes, Comments, and Shares: If you frequently engage with genealogy posts or a friend’s updates, the algorithm assumes you find that content valuable and will prioritize it in your feed.
Time Spent on Posts: Even if you don’t click "like," lingering on a post signals to the algorithm that it’s interesting to you.
Search and Click Behavior: Searching for genealogy hashtags or clicking on family history content tells the platform you’re interested in these topics.
Why Genealogy Content Might Disappear
If you stop interacting with genealogy or family history posts, the algorithm assumes you’ve lost interest. Over time, this content gets pushed further down your feed or disappears altogether. The same goes for groups or pages you don’t engage with regularly—even if you’re still a member.
Why You Stop Seeing Your Friends’ Posts
The algorithm doesn’t just prioritize topics; it also prioritizes people. If you’re not liking, commenting on, or interacting with a friend’s posts, the algorithm might think their content isn’t relevant to you. As a result, their updates may no longer appear in your feed.
How to Take Control of Your Feed
You can take steps to ensure you’re seeing the content you care about:
Engage Regularly: Like, comment, or share genealogy posts and updates from your friends. This signals to the algorithm that you value this content.
Search for Content: Visit pages, groups, or hashtags related to family history to show the algorithm your interest.
Adjust Your Settings: Some platforms let you prioritize certain friends or pages so their posts always appear in your feed.
Join and Participate in Groups: Engaging in niche groups for genealogy or family history can help keep this content in your feed.
Algorithms aren’t out to get you, but they are designed to optimize your feed for engagement. If you’re not actively interacting with content, the algorithm assumes it’s no longer relevant to you. By being intentional about your online behavior, you can "train" the algorithm to show you what matters most.
Social media is a powerful tool for connecting with your genealogy community and staying updated on your family and friends’ lives—but only if the algorithm knows that’s what you want. So, take a moment to engage with the content you love. Like that family history post, comment on your friend’s photo, and share a story from your genealogy journey. Your feed will thank you!
Now it's your turn to help spread the genealogy love! Share this post with your family history friends and fellow researchers who might be wondering why their favorite genealogy content has gone missing. By sharing and engaging with genealogy content together, we can create a more vibrant online community for family historians.
Remember: every like, comment, and share not only helps others discover valuable genealogy content but also strengthens our digital connections. Tag a friend who might need this information, or better yet, share it in your favorite genealogy group. Let's work together to keep family history flourishing in our social media feeds!
Great article! I immediately shared it on Facebook cause this doesn't just pertain to genealogy but anyone who is missing content in their feeds. You said it so well.
Well said. A few random sprinklings of "likes" and "shares" go a long way to preserving the content we like and perhaps helping those pages reach a larger audience as well.