Followers don’t mean $%*& on Social Media
Okay, I’ll admit it—I was exaggerating just a bit.
The social media algorithm has changed dramatically over the past few years. Back then, getting your content seen meant building a massive following first. Today? That rule is basically gone.
In 2026, creators with little to no audience can rack up millions of views—if they understand what actually matters. In this post, I’m breaking down the analytics you should be paying attention to this year, what the algorithm truly rewards now, and where your follower count still plays a role.
The Algorithm Shift Every Creator Needs to Understand
Prior to the algorithm change your followers were like an e-mail newsletter. You would post and your followers would all be fed your content. But not anymore! Social Media has changed to Interest Media. The algorithm now feeds you content they believe you are interested in. Think of this. Your friends are not posting to their feed everyday when it comes to Instagram. They usually post to their stories. So if you were to open Instagram you may only have a few posts to view in a day and close the app. Well as a business Instagram wants you to stay on their platform as long as possible. So they are showing you content from other creators based on things you have liked, commented on, reposted or shared with friends.
THOSE are the analytics you should be watching for when you post content. I’ve found making shareable content to be the best way to go viral.
Why Shareability Is the Key to Beating the Algorithm
On average, only 10–30% of your followers actually see a post in their feed across major platforms like Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Facebook. That’s why creating highly shareable content is critical. When people share your post to their stories, send it via DM, or repost it to their feed, it significantly increases reach. Early engagement—especially within the first few hours—plays a major role in determining whether the algorithm distributes your content to a broader audience.
When Follower Count Still Matters on Social Media
If your goal goes beyond views—such as monetizing your content—a strong following becomes more valuable. Brands typically evaluate both follower count and engagement when deciding whether to pursue a partnership or brand deal. While engagement often provides a more accurate measure of influence, many large corporations still place significant weight on follower count. This is largely because they are less aligned with the shift toward interest-based media, where content performance and audience relevance matter more than raw audience size.
