Adam Mosseri Clears the Air
Instagram chief Adam Mosseri has debunked another common Instagram myth as part of his new series of informational posts in the app. In his latest post, Mosseri clarifies that Instagram does not downrank posts tagged as sponsored content to force brands to pay for reach.
Maintaining Transparency and Compliance
Mosseri emphasized that marking posts as sponsored helps Instagram understand the platform better. He highlighted the importance for creators to label sponsored content without the fear of downranking, enabling them to comply with various regulations worldwide.
The Truth Behind Sponsored Content Reach
While the notion persists that Instagram benefits from suppressing sponsored posts to drive additional payment for reach, some argue that user engagement naturally decreases with such content. The mere presence of the “Sponsored” label may prompt users to scroll past, impacting engagement and subsequent reach.
Intent vs. Perception
Mosseri clarified that any reach limitation associated with sponsored content is likely a consequence of user behavior rather than a deliberate strategy by Instagram to diminish post visibility. He affirmed that the platform has not actively implemented measures to curtail the reach of sponsored posts based on their tags.
Insights from Instagram
This latest revelation is part of a series of informative updates from Mosseri aimed at providing users with clarity on various aspects of the app. In a previous post, he explained that featuring a brand logo in a Reel does not lead to penalties, whereas Reels with TikTok and YouTube watermarks may experience reduced reach.
Navigating User Skepticism
Despite Instagram’s efforts to dispel misconceptions through direct communication, skepticism persists among some users due to Meta’s history of unfavorable actions toward business users. Those who have experienced negative outcomes may find it challenging to trust the platform’s statements fully.
Regardless of varying perceptions, Adam Mosseri’s assurance that Instagram does not penalize posts with “Sponsored” tags provides valuable insights into the platform’s operational practices.