How are Instagram story views arranged?

INSTAGRAM stories allows you to share fleeting moments of your life with your followers, with the posts disappearing after a 24-hour period.

Here we take a look at how the platform's algorithm works and the way it determines the order of story views.

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How are Instagram story views arranged?

You might have wondered why some of your followers appear at the top of the list of those who have viewed your Insta story, while others always seem to pop up at the very bottom.

The first 50 views appear in the order your story was viewed by those you have shared it with — although some users have reported minor discrepancies when checking their views on different devices.

After the first 50 views, Instagram's algorithm takes over.

Taking various factors into account while determining which content to prioritise for its users, the social media site uses a complicated algorithm.

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In general terms, the idea is to provide users with a personalised experience in line with their interests, keeping them engaged with the platform.

This algorithm is constantly adapting to the behaviour and preferences of its members, evolving as it does so. 

Analysing a wide range of data points, including interactions, relevance of content and how recently a post was shared, it aims to create a tailored feed for every user.

Instagram has not disclosed all of the details about its algorithm, so a definitive answer is not currently available.

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But according to wikiHow, after the first 50 who appear chronologically — the most recent viewer appearing at the very top — the users are then sorted by engagement, as in who you interact with most frequently.

Accounts you do not follow back will therefore appear towards the very bottom of the list.

How are Instagram stories arranged?

In an effort to ensure users see the content most relevant and engaging to them, Instagram's story ranking system takes numerous factors into consideration. 

To help you navigate the platform and maximise your story's reach, understanding these factors is essential.

When people frequently interact with each other's content, their stories are will appear higher in each other's view order.

Mutual interactions, such as comments and likes, suggest a strong connection and interest in each other's posts.

Instagram endeavours to strengthen these connections by prioritising these stories on the feeds of those with strong mutual interactions. 

Can you watch Instagram stories anonymously?

Instagram does not officially allow its members to view stories anonymously.

If you view someone's Instagram story, the author will see your username.