In this episode, Brock Johnson breaks down the new Instagram algorithm updates for April 2026, based on insights directly from Instagram’s CEO and recent data analyzing over 52 million posts. He starts by looking at the current state of engagement, including a 26% decline since 2024, and how Instagram now behaves like two separate platforms—Reels driving more reach, while carousels generate higher engagement.

Brock walks through key strategic changes you should be making right now, including how to optimize and reorder carousel posts, why you should stop sharing feed posts to Stories, and how to properly recycle content without hurting performance. He also covers Instagram’s crackdown on aggregators and low-effort reposts, including what now qualifies as original content.

From there, Brock  breaks down what’s currently working in video content, including why speech-based videos outperform music-only content, how showing your face early improves retention, and new interaction behaviors like single-tap pause. He also explains the concept of disconnected reach and what it means for growth.

Finally, he covers new and emerging features, including editable comments, “Spin” Stories, and early testing of links in captions for Meta Verified users. This episode is focused on helping you adapt your content strategy based on what Instagram is actively prioritizing right now.

Watch On YouTube  👉https://www.youtube.com/@BuildYourTribePodcast/videos

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🎯 Related Links:

The State of Instagram Study

https://buffer.com/resources/state-of-social-media-engagement-2026/?utm_campaign=paid&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&utm_content=20949967838&utm_term=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20943525075&gbraid=0AAAAADq9yAoSgq3NnVvhSdJ-jbXOJ0srN&gclid=CjwKCAjwhLPOBhBiEiwA8_wJHBHZv515wV7qtCwR-jtnXUS3zQvAiNbPJ3TDtyctb8D-XJ-RKO6-ChoCDx0QAvD_BwE

Social Media Today Study

https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/human-speech-and-presence-help-drive-reels-engagement/815381/ 

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Connect with Brock on your fav social platform:

Instagram: @Brock11Johnson

TikTock: @brock11johnnson