Physics

Sociology

Business

Social science

Human–computer interaction

Algorithm

Optics

World Wide Web

Visibility

Marketing

Interdependence

Artificial intelligence

Negotiation

Influencer marketing

Game studies

Marketing management

Computer science

Social media

Relationship marketing

New Media & Society

Algorithms are said to affect social realities, often in unseen ways. This article explores conscious, instrumental interactions with algorithms, as a window into the complexities and extent of algorithmic power. Through a thematic analysis of online discussions among Instagram influencers, I observed that influencers’ pursuit of influence resembles a game constructed around “rules” encoded in algorithms. Within the “visibility game,” influencers’ interpretations of Instagram’s algorithmic architecture—and the “game” more broadly—act as a lens through which to view and mechanize the rules of the game. Illustrating this point, this article describes two prominent interpretations, which combine information influencers glean about Instagram’s algorithms with preexisting discourses within influencer communities on authenticity and entrepreneurship. This article shows how directing inquiries toward the visibility game makes present the interdependency between users, algorithms, and platform owners and demonstrates how algorithms structure, but do not unilaterally determine user behavior.

Playing the visibility game: How digital influencers and algorithms negotiate influence on Instagram