Chronological feed
A feed that shows posts in pure time order (latest first), without algorithmic reordering. Once the standard on all platforms, then replaced by algorithmic feeds — and reintroduced as an optional choice after user demand.
History: early Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook showed everything chronologically. When engagement-driven algorithms took over (mid-2010s) it disappeared, which caused great frustration ("I just want to see my friends' posts in order"). The platforms gradually reintroduced it as an opt-in: Twitter/X's "Following" tab, Instagram's "Following"/"Favorites". Trade-off: chronological gives control and transparency but can feel sparser/duller and misses relevant older content; algorithmic maximizes engagement but is opaque and manipulable. Bluesky makes chronology a core principle (custom feeds). The chronological vs. algorithmic debate is central to the criticism of social media. Related to algorithmic feed and custom feed.