What none of this does
No order puts a Reel on Explore or in recommendations. The Reel still has to hold the people who see it.
Meta removes inauthentic likes and follows it detects, so a count can move back. Every option shows its start window and pace, so you know what you are buying.
Anyone can hide the like counts on their own posts, so likes work as a ranking input more than as a number everyone sees.
Meta's spam standard
Comment likes
The comments under a big Reel are read by everyone who opens them.
Instagram puts your own comments, your friends' and pinned ones first, then orders the rest by a score that counts each comment's likes and replies. Add likes to a comment worth reading and it competes for the spots people see.
- 1Copy the comment's link, or give the commenter's username
- 2Pick a size that fits the thread
- 3Follow the likes land on the dashboard
Meta: how Instagram ranks comments