What is a Social Media Timeline?

A timeline is the chronological or algorithm-curated display of posts that serves as the main content feed on social platforms. It's the central space where you see updates from accounts you follow, sponsored content, and (on many platforms) recommended posts based on your interests and behavior.

Originally, timelines were strictly chronological, with newest posts appeared at the top. However, modern platforms often use algorithm-driven timelines to prioritize content based on user behavior and relevance.

Each platform's timeline has unique characteristics that influence how content is displayed and consumed.

Timelines across social media platforms

Most modern timelines use complex algorithms that consider factors like:

However, each platform will have their own algorithm:

‍Facebook: Offers both a Home feed (algorithmic) and a Feeds tab for a more chronological view from friends, pages, and groups.

Instagram: The default feed is algorithm-based, but users can switch to “Following” for a chronological timeline or “Favorites” for curated updates.

‍X (formerly Twitter): Users can toggle between the “For You” (algorithmic) and “Following” (chronological) timelines.

LinkedIn: Timeline shows updates from connections, pages, and topics you follow—prioritized by relevance and engagement.