How the Facebook Algorithm Works in 2026
Facebook's feed now mixes friends, groups, Pages and recommended content from accounts you don't follow. Here's how ranking works in 2026 and what that means for businesses.
Key takeaways
- Facebook ranks posts by predicting how likely you are to engage with each one, using thousands of signals.
- Since 2022 the Home feed has acted as a 'discovery engine', mixing in recommended posts from accounts people don't follow, especially Reels.
- Since July 2025 Facebook has demoted and demonetised unoriginal content from accounts that repeatedly repost others' work.
- For businesses, original video, posts that start conversations and active Groups get the most reach.
Facebook’s feed algorithm has changed more in the last few years than in the decade before. The platform that once showed mostly friends’ updates now works more like TikTok, mixing in recommended content from accounts people don’t follow. Here’s how it works in 2026.
The four-step ranking process
Meta describes feed ranking in four broad steps:
- Inventory: all the posts that could be shown: from friends, Groups and Pages you follow, plus recommended content.
- Signals: thousands of data points about each post and about you: who posted it, when, what type it is, how others reacted, how you’ve interacted with similar posts.
- Predictions: how likely you are to engage with each post (comment, share, watch, react), and how likely you are to find it valuable.
- Relevance score: the predictions combine into a score, and the feed is ordered accordingly, with some adjustments for variety and integrity.
Key shifts that shape today’s feed
2018: friends over Pages
The Meaningful Social Interactions update in January 2018 prioritised posts that spark conversations between people. Organic reach for Pages fell sharply and has never fully recovered.
2022: the discovery engine
In July 2022 Facebook split the experience: Home became an AI-ranked feed with recommended content, and a separate Feeds tab shows friends, Groups and Pages chronologically. Recommended Reels became a major part of Home. See Home & Feeds.
2025: originality enforcement
In July 2025 Meta announced it would reduce distribution of duplicate content and remove monetisation from accounts that repeatedly repost other people’s content without meaningful changes. See the unoriginal content crackdown.
What the algorithm rewards
- Original content, especially video and Reels you made yourself
- Conversation: posts that get people talking in the comments, not just reacting
- Shares, particularly to Messenger and into Groups
- Watch time on videos and Reels
- Relationships: posts from people and Pages someone interacts with often
What it demotes
- Engagement bait (“Like if you agree!”, “Tag a friend”)
- Reposted or lightly edited content from other creators
- Links to low-quality or misleading sites
- Content people hide or mark “Not interested”
What businesses should do
- Post Reels. Recommended Reels are the main way Pages reach new people today.
- Start conversations. Ask genuine questions; reply to comments quickly.
- Use Groups where your customers already gather, or build your own community.
- Make it original. Show your team, products, customers and expertise.
- Use paid to amplify what works organically, through boosted posts or Meta Ads.
For practical ideas, read Facebook Page tips for organic reach. To check your Page, use the Facebook Page audit.