The video's creator, Safiya, tested Instagram's ad-serving algorithm by buying an entire outfit based on sponsored posts that appeared on her feed. She purchased five items: a pair of jeans from Revice Denim, a graphic tee from Life Clothing Company, a velvet jacket from Straight to Hell Apparel, a pair of boots from ModCloth, and earrings from Moonstar Planet.
She evaluated each item's quality, pricing, and how well it fit her personal style. While some items were a good match, others were not as expected. The jeans from Revice Denim had a rough shipping experience, and the graphic tee was considered a bit expensive. However, she liked the velvet jacket and earrings.
Safiya concluded that Instagram's algorithm showed some level of personalization, likely based on her browsing history and search queries on other platforms. Despite this, she felt that the ads could be more specific, especially considering the level of data collection involved. The video ends with Safiya showcasing her entire outfit and sharing her thoughts on how Instagram wants her to dress, which she characterizes as a muted color palette with a faux vintage feel, reminiscent of the 1970s.
Here are the key facts from the text:
1. The author bought an entire outfit from Instagram sponsored posts to test the ad algorithm.
2. The author had previously bought items from Instagram and other social media sites to test their ad algorithms.
3. Instagram's algorithm uses information from the user's activity on Instagram and Facebook, as well as third-party sites and apps.
4. The author bought items from the following companies: Revice Denim, Life Clothing Company, Moonstar Planet, ModCloth, and Straight to Hell Apparel.
5. The author set a budget of $100 per item.
6. The author found an ad for Revice Denim jeans with a 90s edit and bought them for $70 after getting a 20% off coupon.
7. The author also bought a graphic tee from Life Clothing Company for $45.
8. The author found an ad for Moonstar Planet earrings and bought them for $24.
9. The author bought boots from ModCloth for $60.
10. The author bought a jacket from Straight to Hell Apparel for $85.
11. The Revice Denim jeans took around six weeks to arrive and had a shipping issue.
12. The Life Clothing Company graphic tee arrived in a couple of weeks.
13. The Straight to Hell Apparel jacket arrived in a reasonable amount of time.
14. The ModCloth boots arrived in a reasonable amount of time.
15. The Moonstar Planet earrings arrived in a reasonable amount of time.
16. The author likes the style of the earrings, jacket, and boots.
17. The author thinks the Revice Denim jeans are a bit expensive and had shipping issues.
18. The author thinks the Life Clothing Company graphic tee is a bit expensive.
19. The author thinks the outfit has a muted color palette and a faux vintage feel.
20. The author thinks the outfit is a mix of 70s semi-tomboy and urban cowboy vibes.