Instagram has forever changed, and if you want to get more views on Instagram, you need to understand why you aren’t getting the views you feel you deserve, how the algorithm has shifted, and what strategies you need to implement right now to achieve success on Instagram.
The key point to note is that supply and demand are not balanced. And this is not just an Instagram issue. This is happening across all social media platforms right now.
Supply and Demand
The supply, which is the amount of posts being shared, the amount of videos uploaded daily, has significantly increased. There are not only way more posts being posted every single day, but also way more people creating content and posting things every single day. Those two factors multiplied together have led to a massive rise in the supply of content being shared.
Demand, though, is arguably decreasing. People might be spending more time online than ever, but 2024, 2025 and onwards, people are actually spending slightly less time on their phones than in 2020 and 2021. During lockdown, demand was at an all-time high. Now, supply is way up and demand is dropping off a little..
Does this mean it’s impossible to grow, get views, or find success? No, absolutely not. In fact, in the last year the average Insta Club student grew by almost 16,000 followers per person. That’s 15,947 followers per person to be exact.
The most important thing to keep in mind is that the audience matters more than the algorithm. Yes, algorithm updates matter, but truly it is the audience that dictates where algorithms go. If algorithms made random changes, people would stop enjoying the platforms. The audience is what comes first, and it is the psychology of your average follower that you need to understand in order to succeed.
The Bell Curve of Instagram Content
To understand this shift, picture a graph. On the y-axis is the number of posts being published. On the x-axis is the quality of the content. What you get is a normal distribution, or bell curve.
Most content falls in the middle of this curve. About 99% of the content being posted every single day on Instagram sits here. According to recent data, 38.5% of all content shared on Instagram is reels. That’s a slight increase from the end of 2024. And 99% of those reels fall into the middle ground.
So, what’s on either end of this curve?
- On the far left are very low-quality posts.
- On the far right are very high-quality posts. Again, fewer in number, but extremely polished.
And here’s the change: in 2025, it’s only the extremes that are performing. The super low-quality raw content and the super high-quality cinematic content are what get views. The middle ground is no longer effective. Here’s a simple breakdown on how to get more views on Instagram.
Low-quality content
It is sometimes called FaceTime content or yapping content. Think raw videos, zero editing, maybe some captions, but no cuts, no transitions, and no music or effects. This style is especially popular on TikTok. Low quality does not mean smudging your lens or making bad audio. It just means minimal production.
High-quality content
This is the cinematic, professionally edited content with color grading, multiple cuts, B-roll, transitions, music, and effects. Thanks to apps like CapCut and better phone cameras, this type of content is more accessible now. But it is still time-consuming and resource-heavy. For most creators, producing high volumes of this is not realistic unless they have a team or budget.
This leads us back to the middle ground. The middle ground is where most people are stuck: a little editing, some effort, but not enough to be raw and authentic, and not enough to be cinematic and polished. And in this space, engagement drops off.
4 Mistakes That Keep You Stuck in the Middle
- Fancy captions: Known as the Hormosi style, these big, bold captions on videos used to grab attention. Now, because apps offer templates, they no longer stand out.
- Fake podcasts: The setup with a mic and camera pretending to be on a podcast is no longer engaging because everyone does it.
- Generic B-roll: Real, relevant B-roll works. Random clips do not.
- Random effects: When transitions, effects, or filters are added without purpose, they look forced. Use them only if they truly strengthen the story or feeling.
If you flipped the bell curve to measure views instead of posts, you’d see that the extremes raw, low-effort content and cinematic, high-effort content are what perform. The middle gets almost nothing.
Key Takeaways to Get More Views on Instagram
- Use the Topics app before posting to categorize your content.
- Stop using more than five hashtags. It doesn’t work as well anymore, so there’s no point in spamming with 30 hashtags.
- Only interact with your right audience. It may be cool to have a million followers, but if the majority of those followers don’t engage because they aren’t your ideal audience, it will actually reduce your content’s reach to your right audience.
- Test out every feature Instagram rolls out. Instagram wants adoption of their features, so using them increases the chances that your content spreads more virally.
- Actively vet your audience. Make sure you are following and being followed by the right type of people.
5 Instagram Settings You Need to Increase Your Followers
- Go to Settings > Activity > Sharing and Reuse. Turn on Website Embeds to allow your content to be shared more easily across platforms.
- Go to Account Status. Make sure the following two options have green ticks:
- Account in Good Standing – confirms your account has no violations or restrictions.
- Eligible for Recommendations – ensures your content can appear on Reels, Explore, and other discovery surfaces.
- Go to Media Quality. Turn on Upload at Highest Quality and turn off the other two options to ensure your posts and videos look their best.
- Go to your desktop and turn on Show Account Sessions on Profile. This helps track active sessions and optimize your account security.
- Save all the settings to make sure your changes are applied.
Final Thoughts
Instagram in 2025 rewards two extremes: raw low-effort content and cinematic high-effort content. The middle ground is dead. To win, creators should either simplify and go authentic or invest heavily in cinematic production.
For most, the low-effort path is the best option to get more views on Instagram. It is easier, more authentic, and ultimately more effective for growth. The audience wants real people, real moments, and real value.
A good reach depends on followers. Around 10–20% reach is considered strong. For reels, hitting 10K views or more shows your content is performing really well.
The 5-3-1 rule means: interact with 5 new accounts, leave 3 genuine comments, and send 1 meaningful DM daily. It helps build reach and organic growth.
Leverage Reels, since they drive 38.5% of post growth, create engaging short-form content, and stay consistent with high-quality visuals to maximize exposure.
