What is a timeline? 

A timeline is a visual way to show your social media posts and activity in order. It’s like a diary of everything you’ve shared online. On Facebook, Instagram, and X, your timeline displays your posts, photos, and interactions from newest to oldest. 

You can scroll through your timeline to see what you’ve posted over time. It helps you keep track of your social media history and lets friends see what you’ve been up to. Some apps let you customize your timeline or create special ones for events or projects. 

Timeline vs. Feed 

You’ll notice two key ways content is organized on social media: timelines and feeds. Timelines show posts in chronological order, newest to oldest. This lets you see updates from friends or pages you follow as they happen. 

Feeds work differently. They use algorithms to show you content the platform thinks you’ll like most. This means you might see older posts mixed in with newer ones. 

On your personal profile, you’ll typically see a timeline of your own posts and activity. But when you open the app, you’ll usually see an algorithmic feed of content from various sources. 

Understanding this difference helps you manage your social media presence. It’s important to post regularly to stay visible in both timelines and feeds. You can use scheduling tools to plan your posts for optimal times. 

How do privacy settings affect your timeline? 

Your privacy settings can greatly impact what shows up on your timeline and who can see it. You can control who views your posts by adjusting visibility options to public, friends-only, or custom groups. To manage what appears, you can hide or delete posts and adjust tagging settings. You can also limit who can post on your timeline or require approval before posts show up. Remember to review your settings regularly to keep your timeline private and secure.