If your engagement feels off this summer, you're not imagining it. The summer slowdown happens every single year between May and September because people are out living their lives. But 2026 has an extra layer on top of that because Instagram engagement was already down platform-wide before summer even started. So if the dip feels bigger than usual, it's because it is.

In this episode I'm breaking it all down across three sections: what the algorithm actually wants from you right now (watch time and shares are the big ones, not likes), how much you should realistically be posting this summer, and why your stories might be your most powerful tool until fall.

I'm also sharing five practical things you can do right now to stay visible without burning out, including what to do if you need to take a whole week off. The summer dip is not your fault and there's a lot you can do to work with it instead of against it.

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Show notes: https://nicoleialeggio.com/episode72/