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Provides detailed breakdowns of TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook algorithms for 2025-2026, including signals, cold starts, optimization strategies, and platform comparisons.
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Optimizes short-form videos for TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, Facebook Reels with platform lengths, 1.3s hooks, algorithm insights, captions, hashtags, schedules.
Provides platform-specific tactics for Twitter/X and LinkedIn including algorithm understanding, content formats ranked by engagement, posting strategy, and growth tactics.
Social media strategy, content creation, and platform optimization. Use when creating social content, developing engagement strategies, optimizing for platform algorithms, or building community.
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Complete guide to understanding and optimizing for TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook algorithms.
All major platforms use similar principles:
Platforms Want:
What Drives Distribution:
| Signal | Weight | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Watch Time | Highest | Total seconds watched |
| Completion Rate | Very High | % of video watched |
| Replays | High | Video watched multiple times |
| Shares | High | Direct shares to others |
| Comments | Medium-High | Written engagement |
| Follows | Medium | New followers from video |
| Likes | Lower (2025) | Heart button taps |
2025 Update: Shallow interactions (likes) have reduced weight compared to deeper signals like watch time and replays.
How New Videos Are Tested:
Cold Start Success Factors:
Algorithm Favors:
Algorithm Deprioritizes:
2025 Algorithm Change: TikTok now heavily favors micro-niche over broad appeal.
Benefits:
Strategy:
How Videos Reach FYP:
FYP Success Factors:
| Hashtag Type | Purpose | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Broad/Trending | Reach attempt | #fyp, #viral |
| Category | Topic discovery | #fitness, #cooking |
| Niche | Targeted audience | #beginneryoga, #airfryer |
| Branded | Campaign tracking | #YourBrandChallenge |
Optimal Strategy:
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Recommended frequency | 1-4 times daily |
| Views in first 24 hours | 68% |
| Peak window improvement | 30% better results |
| Growth with 2-4x daily | 2.5x higher follower growth |
| Signal | Weight | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Watch Time | Highest | Total minutes watched |
| Audience Retention | Very High | % of video watched |
| Click-Through Rate | Very High | Clicks / Impressions |
| Session Time | High | Time viewer stays on YouTube |
| Engagement | Medium | Likes, comments, shares |
| Subscriber Actions | Medium | New subs, bell clicks |
| Signal | Weight | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Watch Time | Highest | Per-video and cumulative |
| Completion Rate | Very High | Essential for short-form |
| Engagement | High | All interaction types |
| Swipe-Away Rate | High | Inverse signal (lower = better) |
Shorts + Long-Form Connection:
Where Videos Are Discovered:
| Source | Description |
|---|---|
| Home Feed | Personalized recommendations |
| Search | Keyword-based discovery |
| Suggested | After/alongside other videos |
| Browse Features | Trending, playlists |
| Notifications | Subscriber alerts |
| External | Google search, social shares |
Ranking Factors:
| Factor | Importance |
|---|---|
| Watch time | Most important |
| Click-through rate | Very important |
| Engagement | Important |
| Keywords (title, description) | Important |
| Closed captions | 94% of top videos have them |
| Video length | 8-9 minutes best for search |
SEO Statistics:
| Day | Best Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | 6-9 PM | Peak performance |
| Wednesday | 6-9 PM | Peak performance |
| All weekdays | 12-3 PM | Good secondary window |
| Friday-Saturday | Afternoon | Broader engagement window |
Key Strategies:
Maximize Watch Time
Optimize CTR
Increase Session Time
| Signal | Weight | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Topic Clarity | Very High | Clear content categorization |
| Engagement | High | Saves, shares, comments, likes |
| Watch Time | High | Duration viewed |
| Follows from Reel | High | Audience growth signal |
| Audio Usage | Medium | Trending audio preference |
Key Change: Topic Clarity Emphasis
Instagram now prioritizes content that can be clearly categorized by topic.
Impact:
Instagram's content evaluation framework:
| Time | Checkpoint | Algorithm Action |
|---|---|---|
| 3 seconds | Hook evaluation | Continue or abandon |
| 8 seconds | Interest deepening | Engagement prediction |
| 12+ seconds | Value delivery | Distribution decision |
New Feature (2025): Test content without risking engagement metrics.
Benefits:
2025 Shift: Instagram moving from hashtags to keyword-based SEO.
New Strategy:
| Day | Best Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | 11 AM - 6 PM | Peak engagement |
| Wednesday | 11 AM - 6 PM | Peak engagement |
| Thursday | 11 AM - 6 PM | Peak engagement |
Best Practices:
| Signal | Weight | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Shares | Very High | Facebook's core mechanic |
| Comments | High | Discussion generation |
| Watch Time | High | Completion rate |
| Reactions | Medium | Emotional responses |
| Saves | Medium | Bookmark behavior |
Content Preferences:
| Time | Performance |
|---|---|
| Late Friday night | Highest views |
| Midnight into Saturday | Peak performance |
| First 1-2 hours | Critical for reach |
Key Insight: Facebook Reels timing is notably different from other platforms.
When to Cross-Post:
When Not to Cross-Post:
| Platform | Time for 1 View |
|---|---|
| YouTube | 30 seconds |
| 3 seconds | |
| 2 seconds | |
| 3 seconds | |
| TikTok | 3 seconds |
| Platform | Short-Form | Long-Form |
|---|---|---|
| TikTok | 15-30 seconds | N/A |
| YouTube Shorts | 50-60 seconds | N/A |
| YouTube Long | N/A | 8-15 minutes |
| Instagram Reels | 7-30 seconds | N/A |
| Facebook Reels | 15-30 seconds | N/A |
| Platform | Top Priorities |
|---|---|
| TikTok | Watch time, replays, shares |
| YouTube | Watch time, CTR, session time |
| Topic clarity, engagement, watch time | |
| Shares, comments, reactions |
| Platform | Strategy |
|---|---|
| TikTok | 3-5 hashtags, mix niche + category |
| YouTube | Keywords > hashtags, max 15 |
| 3-5 relevant, keyword optimization | |
| Minimal hashtags, focus on shares |
Hook Optimization (All Platforms)
Retention Optimization (All Platforms)
Engagement Optimization (Platform-Specific)
Discovery Optimization (Platform-Specific)
Consistency (All Platforms)
| Content Type | Best Platform | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Entertainment | TikTok | Shortest attention, discovery-focused |
| Educational | YouTube Long | Depth valued, search discovery |
| Product/Commerce | TikTok | Shop integration, buying intent |
| Professional | B2B audience, career focus | |
| Lifestyle | Visual-first, aesthetic-driven | |
| News/Trending | TikTok | Speed of trend adoption |
Across All Platforms:
Platform-Specific:
| Platform | Expected Changes |
|---|---|
| TikTok | More shop integration, niche refinement |
| YouTube | Shorts/long-form synergy, CTV optimization |
| Continued keyword SEO shift | |
| Meta AI integration, Reels priority |
Monitor:
TikTok:
YouTube:
Instagram:
Facebook: