We all say that Instagram is a place for creators, where they grow, share, and create space — a space for artists, thinkers, influencers to share their passion and creativity. But, as time evolved, so did the app. Instagram began segregating, and the algorithm started prioritizing content.

We all have noticed it.

You post a poem – 12 likes.

You did a great artwork – 30 likes

But a comedy skit? A dance trend? A confident photo?

Thousands of views within minutes. It is not always about beauty and confidence. Sometimes it's about laughter, or shock, or even absurdity. The algorithm isn’t choosing based on truth — it's choosing based on engagement. Nowadays, people prefer entertainment rather than truth and thoughtfulness. But, don’t they also want to share their viewpoint with the world? What does that mean for the creator trying to share their works, creativity, which doesn’t fit the viral formula?

This article explores the silent influence of the Instagram Algorithm, what it does, how it shapes, and what we feel we have to be to be noticed.

THE PERFORMANCE CULTURE ON INSTAGRAM

Instagram isn’t just a platform to share ideas or things; it has become a platform of entertainment and a performance arena. We dance to trendy songs, we post cute selfies and photos, or post something with a viral audio — it gets popular and gets noticed by thousands. Even if you're a creator, a student, or even just someone who likes to casually post, there's this unseen pressure to make your posts look refined, interesting, and algorithmic. You share something intimate — a quote, an experience, a tale — and it may reach hardly anyone. Isn’t that shaping our younger generation? This type of algorithm pushes validation addiction, where they crave to be seen by others and become noticed. The performance culture need not necessarily be something ‘bad’, but thinking about those artists who want to gain recognition and work hard for their works doesn’t get visible enough. Isn’t it sad? Instagram's algorithm prefers content that grabs you within the initial seconds — something that will make you pause your scroll. And to achieve that, creators feel obligated to shape their content into the shape: make it quick, silly, pretty, and emotionally evocative. As time passes, this alters the way individuals produce and what they select to post. We start asking ourselves, "Will this work?" rather than "Do I want to share this?" And if you post a reel that you are very confident about, but it doesn’t get the reach you expected, it lowers your confidence.

Here, authenticity is sometimes sacrificed. Not because individuals don't have valuable things to say, but because the system doesn't always value meaning. It values performance.

WHY COMEDY AND PERFORMANCE GO VIRAL?

Not all that goes viral on Instagram is looks. One of the highest-performing categories on the site today is comedy. From skits about arguments with family members to videos imitating teachers, parents, or college life, humor is among the most powerful tools creators have to engage with folks. It gets you to pause scrolling, laugh, and hit share. And that's precisely what the algorithm picks up on. But can we always blame the algorithm? We are ignoring those thoughtful posts and are rather putting our heads into scrolling reels for hours. Ask yourself — have you stopped and appreciated an art, a thought, or an idea, and didn’t just scroll over to the next reel? Confidence does the same. It's not simply a function of being pretty; it's a function of being fearless, expressive, and confident in your own body. A child dancing alone in his room confidently, or an actor performing a dramatic monologue with passion — these are things that stand out because they give energy. They're an immediate emotional call to action, and that's what gets rewarded. They allow people to be creative, spontaneous, and form friendships with strangers across the world. The algorithm appreciates content that receives rapid engagement. So, laughter, surprise, or admiration, the posts that create a strong emotion are being promoted more. This isn't always a bad thing — humor and confidence are powerful types of expression. They enable individuals to be creative, open, and make friends with strangers worldwide. But the pressure to always be entertaining, to always be humorous, or to always be presentable becomes overwhelming at times. When virality becomes the only way to remain noticed, expression gradually becomes expectation, and fun becomes performance.

WHAT HAPPENS TO ‘REAL’ CONTENT?

“Many of my friends write thoughts, ideas in a very creative way. I love reading those, but they don’t get any engagement or likes. Some there posts are artworks, very brilliant and intriguing but yet it often gets unnoticed by the world.” In an environment where speed and sensation dominate, slower and more thoughtful content tends to get lost in the mix. A poem that was written over days. A post that reveals something deeply personal. A quiet work of art. These may be of truth and feeling, but they get shadowed by Instagram, not because they aren’t good works, but because they don’t need an immediate response. The algorithm is designed to pick up on patterns: rapid likes, rapid comments, repeated views. Actual content — the stuff that makes you stop, think, or sit with an emotion — doesn't always create that sort of engagement. So, it subtly fades away from timelines, regardless of how valuable it is. Consequently, most creators start doubting themselves. They question whether whatever they have to say is even worth saying. Not because they're uncertain about their voice, but because the system doesn't listen to it. Gradually, authenticity starts feeling like a gamble. Vulnerability becomes something you share once and then regret, as numbers remain low and commentary feels mute. In this game, it creates a hidden kind of pressure, not to be fake but to be performative. And in this space, the true, real thoughts disappear, and we hide the part of ourselves that wants to express the most, not because we want to hide, but because the app doesn’t show it.

YOU ARE MORE THAN WHAT THE ALGORITHM WANTS

At some point, we all tried to keep up with the algorithm. We hide ourselves behind the curtains to show the visible parts. It’s not because we are desperate to get attention — it’s because we don’t want to get hidden behind the shadows, invisible. Instagram made us believe that our worth can only be measured in views, numbers, and comments. But, here is the truth — you are reality yourselves. You shouldn’t be forcing yourself just to be visible to a large number of people. Even if a handful of people are supporting you, it's true, not alie created by the algorithm. Even if an artist gets only 30 likes, they smile — Because they know the worth of their work doesn’t live inside an app It lives in their heart. Instagram perhaps began as a place for expression, but in large part, it has become a mirror. One that reflects not necessarily who we are, but who the algorithm believes we ought to be.

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