Facebook Algorithm 2026: What Changed and What to Do

What has changed

Based on recent analysis of feed and Reels behaviour, Facebook has not removed any ranking factors in 2026. What has changed is how much each signal counts. Meta has not published exact weights, so treat what follows as informed interpretation rather than official rules.

What we know, and what we do not

We do not know the exact formula, and nobody outside Meta does. We can see which kinds of posts gain and lose reach in our clients' accounts, and the signals below match that pattern. If a tactic in this article works differently for your page, trust your own data over our general advice.

The signals that matter most

• Meaningful comments: comments that give an opinion, ask a question or start a reply count for more than emojis or one-word answers. Engagement bait, such as "comment YES to win", is losing value.
• Watch and time spent: how long people watch, how far they scroll and whether they visit your profile or follow you afterwards.
• Reels testing: Reels are shown to people who do not yet follow you, and watch time, completion rate and replays decide whether they reach a wider audience.
• Original content: reposts and recycled posts, especially with another platform's watermark, tend to lose reach.
• Repeat relationships: people who regularly comment on or watch your posts are more likely to see new ones.
• Negative feedback: hiding a post, unfollowing, reporting or marking content as misleading all count against it.
• Matching expectations: a caption, title or thumbnail that promises more than the content delivers leads to early exits and negative feedback.

What we do for clients

1. Review the last 90 days of posts and sort them by watch time, saves and comment quality, not only by likes.
2. Keep two or three series formats and run them on a steady schedule, so people know what to expect.
3. Write captions that invite a real answer. A specific question gets better replies than a general call to react.
4. Reply to comments in the first hour, which is when conversations are easiest to start.
5. Match the thumbnail to the video. A promise the video does not keep costs watch time and invites negative feedback.

What this means for local businesses

For a business in Ludhiana or elsewhere in Punjab, a small, regular stream of useful local content usually works better than occasional large campaigns. Show your work, your team and your customers' results. Answer the questions people actually ask you in person, and you will have content that people want to watch.

Who this is for

This article is for page owners and small marketing teams who are reviewing their Facebook and Instagram plans for the year. If you want our team to review your current performance, see how we run social media for clients or get in touch.