How the Twitter Algorithm Works in 2023

Twitter could be unpredictable, however one factor stays sure — you gotta respect the algorithm if you wish to make large strikes. Which means if you wish to increase engagement, drive site visitors to your web site and customarily construct consciousness in your model, you’ll want to know easy methods to work with the Twitter algorithm.
Not like different apps, Twitter permits its customers to determine what they see. Customers can select between the algorithmically pushed default timeline (High Tweets) or viewing Tweets in reverse chronological order (Newest Tweets).
However even when some customers aren’t choosing High Tweets, the algorithm nonetheless determines virality on the website. In any case, content material nonetheless spreads additional when precise customers are spreading it. Even when the algorithm solely serves a choose group of individuals, posts will unfold as individuals begin retweeting, replying or liking them.
Leveraging the Twitter algorithm is essential to any model presence. So let’s dig in and determine it out collectively.
What is the Twitter algorithm?
The Twitter algorithm is a set of rules that rank content on the platform, determining each post’s value based on a set of rules.
In essence, the algorithm is a central brain that powers what we see on Twitter and how we see it. These decisions are based on many factors, including location, virality, personal interests, recency and whether or not the post contains media. Don’t worry, we’ll break it all down shortly.
c’mon twitter algorithm! daddy needs a new pair of shoes! pic.twitter.com/xrfHFJ3aHz
— Cameron Bradford (@camerobradford) September 22, 2020
Like most social media websites, the Twitter algorithm modifications all the time — and is definitely a mixture of a number of algorithms. No matter the updates, nonetheless, there are some evergreen truths that may allow you to use the algorithm to succeed in its most potential.
For those who study what drives trending matters, timeline Tweets and the whole lot in between, you should utilize Twitter’s algorithms to their full potential.
How the Twitter algorithm works in 2023
One among the most fascinating issues about Twitter’s algorithms can be considered one of the scariest — they actually do have a thoughts of their very own.
That’s as a result of Twitter, like most different social media firms, makes use of “black field” algorithms. Which means the internal workings of the algorithms are stored secret from customers, although we do know they use machine studying to type content material based mostly on completely different rating indicators.
As CNN explains, “Even those that can perceive the code that goes into an algorithm don’t essentially perceive the way it works…. The individuals who construct these programs don’t all the time know why they attain their conclusions, which is why they’re generally known as ‘black packing containers.’”
That could be altering. Earlier than buying Twitter, Elon Musk requested his followers to vote on whether or not Twitter’s algorithm needs to be open supply. 1.1 million individuals voted, and the outcome was an awesome “sure.”
Twitter algorithm needs to be open supply
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 24, 2022
As CNN reported, Musk repeated his objective to open up Twitter’s supply code at a TED convention in Vancouver. His motive? He desires to “unlock” Twitter’s “extraordinary potential” by making it simpler for customers to know why their Tweets are being promoted.
This transparency may also assist fend off repeated studies that the Twitter algorithm is biased, which the firm has labored laborious to refute.
House vs. Newest Tweets
Twitter customers can toggle between two completely different timelines: House or Newest Tweets.
To observe what’s taking place in actual time, faucet the ✨ situated at the prime proper of your House timeline to alter from seeing prime Tweets to newest Tweets first.
— Twitter Help (@TwitterSupport) May 31, 2020
Newest Tweets exhibits you a real-time, reverse chronological timeline of Tweets from individuals you observe. For those who don’t observe lots of people (otherwise you observe a ton of individuals and are hopelessly hooked on Twitter), that is the finest view as a result of it is going to present your mates’ Tweets even when they don’t get a whole lot of traction.
House makes use of Twitter’s rating algorithm to show posts based mostly on what the algorithm perceives as extra necessary to you. A number of elements play into what makes a Tweet seem on the House timeline.
As Twitter explains, “Home, or top Tweets, are ones you are likely to care about most, and we select them based mostly on accounts you work together with often, Tweets you have interaction with, and way more.”
“This implies you’ll typically see Tweets from accounts you don’t observe,” they proceed. “We suggest Tweets to you based mostly on who you already observe and Subjects you observe, and don’t suggest content material that could be abusive or spammy. We share suggestions through push notifications, your Notifications tab, and by including them to your House timeline.”
To modify between the House timeline and Newest Tweets, click on the star image at the prime of your Twitter timeline. The star image could be discovered on each desktop and cellular.
For those who’re studying Twitter in your personal enjoyment, you may want one timeline over the different. However for those who’re making an attempt to market a model, you’ll wish to learn to get your content material into the House timeline.
Twitter Subjects
Since 2019, Twitter has allowed customers to observe Subjects in addition to particular person Twitter accounts. Which means customers can opt-in to obtain Tweets about their favourite celebrities, musicians, sports activities groups or normal dialog matters with out having to seek out particular accounts or manually seek for hashtags.
To see what Subjects you presently observe or discover these you could be in, you’ll be able to click on the three dots at the aspect of your Twitter residence web page, then click on via to the Subjects web page.
On cellular, the Subjects button will already seem in your navigation menu.
“We would like Subjects on Twitter to mirror the broader, lasting conversations individuals have about the occasions, individuals, and issues they focus on,” Twitter explains.
“So we use machine studying to seek out associated Tweets from these conversations. This might imply they Tweet so much about the Matter or work together so much with Tweets about the Matter. From there, we discover the Tweets which might be most fascinating to these individuals, utilizing algorithms, key phrases, and extra indicators.”
From the prompt matters above, you’ll be able to see that Twitter’s algorithm has decided that I like cats (true!), humorous tweets (undoubtedly true!) and Jin (I’m way more of a Jungkook fan…).
The Subjects you subscribe to will turn into one other issue in how Twitter’s algorithm shapes your expertise.

The Discover tab
Twitter used to arrange all of its content material based mostly on hashtags, however the website has turn into extra complicated the extra it’s grown. Now, a curated collection of really useful content material seems underneath the Explore tab.
To get to Discover, click on the hashtag on Twitter desktop or the search icon on Twitter cellular.
The Discover web page’s content material caters to your location, however you can also make it international as a substitute. Faucet the settings icon on the Discover web page and switch off Present content material in this location. You can too click on round to see what’s trending in different places.
The Discover tab itself truly has a number of tabs inside it, together with For you, Trending, Information, Sports activities, Enjoyable and Leisure.
For you
Very like TikTok earlier than them, Twitter has a For you tab too. It comprises prompt Tweets, accounts, matters and different content material that the Twitter algorithm has decided you could be in.
It’s not solely tied to your chosen Subjects, however the For you web page will make choices and suggestions based mostly in your Twitter historical past. The extra you utilize Twitter, the extra correct it is going to be.
Trending
The Trending tab is the place, effectively, all of the magnificence and chaos of Twitter happens.
It comprises an inventory of the prime 30 trending matters in your nation — you’ll be able to faucet via to every one for extra data.
Twitter’s trending algorithm ranks matters by quantity of Tweets, replies and retweets, however that’s not the solely issue. As Twitter explains, “This algorithm identifies matters which might be fashionable now, reasonably than matters which were fashionable for some time or every day.”
In different phrases, the Trending tab is for rising conversations.
That explains why you may see a celeb’s title trending and never know whether or not they’ve handed away, gotten a messy divorce or simply acquired photographed with their fly down on a crimson carpet.
Information, Sports activities, Enjoyable, Leisure
The Discover part is rounded out by tabs devoted to Information, Sports activities, Enjoyable and Leisure. Every of those tabs will show trending matters and prime Tweets in their respective fields.
For those who’re inquisitive about what’s taking place in the world of sportsball or really feel like maintaining with the Kardashians, you’ll be able to click on the Sports activities or Leisure tabs. And for those who’d reasonably keep away from these issues like the plague, you’ll be able to attempt to give attention to the Information or see what sorts of ridiculous issues are popping off in the Enjoyable tab.
Twitter algorithm rating indicators
We’ve realized that Twitter likes to suggest content material, however then the query stays — how do you get Twitter to suggest your content material?
According to Twitter, prime Tweets are chosen “based mostly on accounts you work together with most, Tweets you have interaction with, and way more.”
That’s a little bit imprecise, however right here’s what Twitter has shared about its House timeline, Developments, and Subjects rating indicators:
Recency
- Twitter prioritizes Developments based mostly on “matters which might be fashionable now, reasonably than matters which were fashionable for some time or every day.”
- Present occasions and matters might seem in a piece at the prime of the House timeline referred to as What’s Occurring.
Relevance
- Twitter will construct a profile for you based mostly on earlier actions like your personal Tweets and Tweets you’ve engaged with.
- The app will even prioritize accounts you usually have interaction with and matters you observe and interact with most.
- Your location can be a key ingredient in what content material will likely be pushed towards you.
- Twitter additionally retains observe of the variety of Tweets you’ve made which might be associated to a subject.
Engagement
- Twitter will prioritize a Tweet based mostly on how fashionable it’s and the way individuals in your community are interacting with it.
- For those who observe a sure Matter, Twitter will take a look at how many individuals are Tweeting, retweeting, replying, and liking Tweets about that Matter.
- In the Trending tab, Twitter will preserve rely of the variety of Tweets associated to the Development.
Wealthy Media
- Twitter will manage tweets based mostly on what sort of media it contains, like photographs, movies, GIFs or polls.
In all of their press supplies, Twitter particularly says they won’t suggest “content material that could be abusive or spammy.” So, y’know… don’t do this.
10 ideas for working with the Twitter algorithm
1. Preserve an energetic Twitter presence
Twitter is a whole lot of issues, however one factor it isn’t is treasured. It’s best to clearly suppose earlier than you tweet, however don’t overthink it. For those who’ve acquired an concept for a put up, simply do it. Both it’ll work, or it is going to flop, and the timeline will preserve shifting.
Hootsuite usually recommends posting at least 1-2 times per day and a most of 3-5 instances per day (with a number of Tweets in a thread counting as one put up). That’s the finest strategy to preserve your followers engaged.
It’s additionally necessary to remain in the algorithm’s good graces. For those who solely tweet as soon as every week, it’s extremely unlikely that you just’re going to be pushed to the House Tweets web page.
2. Get verified
In idea, it’s by no means been simpler to get verified. That’s as a result of the service now permits anybody that pays for a Twitter Blue subscription service to get all the advantages of a blue test.
we’re relaunching @TwitterBlue on Monday – subscribe on net for $8/month or on iOS for $11/month to get entry to subscriber-only options, together with the blue checkmark 🧵 pic.twitter.com/DvvsLoSO50
— Twitter (@Twitter) December 10, 2022
Sure, you learn that proper — anybody who indicators up for Twitter’s new program will now be eligible for verification.
In line with the new guidelines for Twitter Blue, all it’s worthwhile to do is pay $8 a month in your net browser or $11 a month to have the service on iOS. Then, you’ll get options like the potential to edit tweets and put up longer movies than everybody else — in addition to the different perks of verification.
This implies, after all, that you just’ll do higher with the algorithm. As Twitter places it, verification will mean you can “rocket to the prime of replies, mentions and search,” including that “Tweets from verified customers will likely be prioritized.”
In the previous, customers have been verified as a result of they have been notable in their area (akin to celebrities or journalists), however Twitter now says it will only verify users when they subscribe for Twitter Blue.
There are just a few new checkmarks on Twitter now, too. Enterprise accounts will obtain an official gold checkmark, whereas authorities accounts will obtain a grey one.
we’ll start changing that “official” label with a gold checkmark for companies, and later in the week a gray checkmark for presidency and multilateral accounts
— Twitter (@Twitter) December 10, 2022
3. Tweet at the proper time
Certain, the House Tweets algorithm will push out related content material lengthy after it was first posted, nevertheless it’s nonetheless finest to put up strategically so you could have a greater probability of snowballing into virality.
Hootsuite analysis exhibits that, in normal, the best time to post on Twitter is 8 a.m. Pacific on Mondays and Thursdays, so you possibly can save your finest content material for then. However preserve in thoughts that Twitter is a world platform, that means each timezone is related.
If you wish to uncover your finest time to put up, attempt retweeting your finest content material at completely different instances all through the day to see while you achieve the most traction.
4. Use tags purposefully
They may appear quaint and even cringe (particularly for those who’re nonetheless utilizing #YOLO or #Profitable), however hashtags are nonetheless a wonderful strategy to achieve traction on Twitter.
Twitter knowledge exhibits that a Twitter ad gets almost 10% more attention when it includes branded hashtags.
Are you a #SmallBusiness? Listed below are some ideas & tips from your mates at Twitter:
⏰ Share updates early and infrequently
👋 Showcase the individuals behind your corporation
📲 Begin and be part of conversations, like #TweetASmallBiz
✨ Lean into your differentiators pic.twitter.com/Qq440IzajF— Twitter Enterprise (@TwitterBusiness) October 11, 2021
Control trending hashtags and use them organically together with your posts. However don’t overdo them — the algorithm hates spam.
You can too tag different customers, which is able to naturally encourage them to retweet or have interaction. Mentioning somebody in a tweet is a good way to unfold your attain and appease the algorithm. However once more — spamming is a no-no.
5. Use pictures, movies, GIFs
A lift in engagement might help your Tweet’s rating with the Twitter algorithm. And it’s well-known that Tweets with pictures, movies, and GIFs are inclined to get extra consideration.
And whilst you was restricted to 1 video or GIF per Tweet, Twitter recently made it possible to add up to four pieces of media per Tweet. You may combine and match movies, GIFs and pictures. It’s a good way to get inventive together with your posts.
You also needs to add captions to any movies, as they outcome in a 28% longer view time. And whilst you’re at it, be sure to embrace alt text in order that your media posts are accessible for everybody.
— Sopranos World (@SopranosWorld) October 6, 2022
6. Encourage followers to have interaction
On the subject of soliciting engagement on Twitter, it’s easy. Ask, and also you shall obtain.
Ask an open-ended query or invite your followers to share pictures or movies with you. Begin a light-hearted debate. Perhaps attempt partaking in a risky reply or two.
Steak-umm says ship the dangerous tweet https://t.co/JccPoZrj0V
— Hootsuite 🦉 (@hootsuite) September 23, 2022
An open-ended query that encourages quote-tweets is considered one of the finest, best methods to get individuals to have interaction. Music publicist Eric Alper is the grasp of this artwork type:
What’s the best opening lyrics to a tune that you just’ve ever heard?
— Eric Alper 🎧 (@ThatEricAlper) November 19, 2022
7. Strive a Twitter Ballot
One other factor you’ll be able to ask for? Votes. Polls are a fast and simple strategy to ask for enter on one thing. It may very well be something from an on-brand survey to a request for concrete suggestions.
Quiz Time!
In line with an Accenture survey of over 10,000 shoppers, what’s the prime concern for individuals shopping for merchandise immediately via social media?
— Hootsuite 🦉 (@hootsuite) November 17, 2022
Or, you possibly can use polls to essentially have some enjoyable with it.
Ask a controversial query, and folks will really feel personally answerable for making their aspect win. Higher than that, they’ll come again to verify their aspect received. And if it’s dropping, they might even share the ballot with their followers to demand extra votes.
Like most social networks, Twitter loves to advertise its personal options, so polls do effectively in the Twitter feed algorithm. And doubly so if persons are up in arms about them.
Sooooo we should always most likely determine this out now with #Thanksgiving tomorrow… is #turkey scrumptious or overrated? 🍗🍽️
— STRAWBERRY (@STRAWBERRYradio) November 23, 2022
8. Be part of related tendencies and matters
Search for tendencies and matters that your model can contribute to — or lead. You may plan forward with Twitter’s often up to date marketing calendar or, higher but, bookmark Hootsuite’s complete list of social media holidays.
Control the Trending tab on the Discover web page for the newest tendencies in real-time. However don’t trend-jack or news-jack your method into each dialog on Twitter. Discover the matters and themes that make sense in your model.
9. Repackage prime content material
Even for those who tweet at peak instances, chances are high many followers might have missed your Tweet. And if it carried out effectively the first time, it probably will once more.
There are many methods you possibly can preserve the ball rolling for the algorithm. Over the years, self-retweets have grown extra widespread — you possibly can do that in case your preliminary tweet gained some traction and also you wish to preserve the ball rolling.
You can too re-share the identical content material however phrase it otherwise or strategy it from a very completely different angle. Discover inventive methods to repackage and re-share what works.
For instance, for those who’re sharing a weblog put up, you possibly can spotlight completely different components of the identical content material at completely different instances. You may take into account it one other strategy to A/B test and uncover which strategy your viewers finds most compelling.
Beneath you’ll see two alternative ways Vulture promoted their 2021 Jennifer Coolidge profile, together with a viral quote from the piece and one other more moderen share of the piece to coincide with The White Lotus season 2.
«What would I would like? I don’t know. Extra tequila.» —@JENCOOLIDGE (📸: Irina Rozovsky) https://t.co/nNvwpuTKJR pic.twitter.com/Jgk3HgbG6j
— Vulture (@vulture) July 6, 2021
The joke was by no means on Jennifer Coolidge. Revisit @e_alexjung‘s profile https://t.co/h2mnvtkVJW
— Vulture (@vulture) October 14, 2022
10. Apply insights from analytics
On the subject of algorithms, there are not any one-size-fits-all options. Use Twitter Analytics to trace what works and what doesn’t in your particular account, and preserve testing.
And for a fowl’s eye view of how your content material is performing throughout completely different social media platforms, select a social media administration device like Hootsuite.
Hootsuite permits you to just about do all of it:
- Construct and schedule customized analytics studies so that you’re all the time on prime of your efficiency
- Monitor and benchmark your posts in opposition to your rivals and trade averages
- Control trending matters and hashtags so you’ll be able to plan your subsequent marketing campaign
- …oh, and you may also compose, schedule, and publish posts for each social platform, together with Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, Fb, Messenger, LinkedIn, Pinterest and YouTube
Handle your Twitter presence alongside your different social channels and save time utilizing Hootsuite. From a single dashboard, you’ll be able to schedule and publish posts, have interaction your viewers, and measure efficiency. Strive it free in the present day.
Do it higher with Hootsuite, the all-in-one social media device. Keep up to the mark, develop, and beat the competitors.