How do algorithms really work on social media, and what does that mean for artists?

The ‘algorithm’ is the biggest bunch of BS in history—it simply means ‘are you entertaining or not?’ Here’s how to visualize it: every post created by every human on Earth goes into one giant warehouse. An automated system picks posts and sends them out on millions of different ‘highways’—these highways are people’s feeds. When you only post art, the system puts you in the art lane, and maybe a few related lanes like ‘lakes’ if your art features a lake. But when you share that you have a specific dog breed, it puts you in the dog-lovers lane. When you share you kayak, it goes in the kayaking lane. When you mention your vintage car, it goes in the car enthusiast lane. Each personal detail is like placing multiple bets on a roulette table instead of relying on just one lane. People in those other lanes find you interesting and engage. When engagement goes up, the platforms think ‘this person is interesting’ and show more of your posts, including your art. Art alone usually isn’t entertaining enough to charge up engagement—the personal content is what makes the algorithm work in your favor.

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Asked by general audience · Answered by Patrick · Art Business Webinar · 2026-09-02