Hello, community! Although 2025 has just passed, it has already outlined certain directions in which the major traffic sources will move. This includes Meta with its Facebook and Instagram platforms. In this article, we will try to systematize all the available information and come to a conclusion about what 2026 may look like for affiliates working with Meta.
Before we begin, we recommend checking out our guide on linking a card to Facebook Ads in 2025. It’s a very useful article with plenty of screenshots for better understanding!
The chronological feed may replace the algorithmic one
The EU Digital Services Act (DSA) has forced Meta to give users more control over the type of content they see in their feeds. Previously, the algorithmic feed was the primary mechanism on Facebook. Now, however, it may be replaced by a chronological feed. At least for now, users already have the option to choose between the two.
The problem with a chronological feed is that it does not retain users as effectively. Content appears completely randomly, while the algorithmic feed is designed specifically to keep users engaged for as long as possible. The less time a user spends scrolling, the fewer ads they see.
Therefore, we can expect that this change may lead to reduced scrolling activity in 2026, especially among users within the European Union.
More AI for the AI gods!
Earlier, we already talked about Meta AI. The company’s previous attempts to integrate artificial intelligence into advertising tools have already had a noticeable impact on targeting. Although Meta claims these algorithms should help advertisers save budget and reach more relevant audiences, affiliates are still facing various issues in practice.
However, Meta AI focuses on something slightly different. Zuckerberg’s company has its own AI assistant, and this assistant can recommend targeted advertising content — including your ads. The concept works roughly like this:
- A user asks: “What do you think about this TV? Is it good or not?”
- The AI assistant replies: “This TV is good, but if you want a similar one that is cheaper and better — here is a link.”
The important thing is that the neural network collects a massive amount of information — not only when users ask about specific products. This allows Meta to improve advertising personalization even further.
We should also mention Business AI. This tool allows brands to create their own chatbots that not only help users find specific products but also personalize the shopping experience by learning user preferences.
However, certain conditions may prevent Meta AI from reaching its full potential even in 2026. One of the main obstacles is regional restrictions. In some countries — including several top GEOs — strict regulations limit the collection of personal data. This means the assistant may not be able to use information from private conversations to promote products.
AI instead of real users?
Meta will continue developing its metaverse ecosystem. Meta AI Profiles are already available in the United States and may expand to other countries in 2026. Even now, approximately 5% of Facebook’s 900 million active users are fake accounts created using this tool. But what exactly are these profiles?
Meta AI Profiles are a service that allows users to create AI-generated avatars. The key feature is that these avatars can interact in comment sections with real users. According to Meta, the goal is to make it impossible for people to distinguish between a bot and a real human.
The main purpose of this initiative is to increase engagement from real users. However, it may become much harder for advertisers to analyze campaign metrics, since engagement statistics could be artificially inflated by bots.
This could also artificially increase click costs. It may appear that reach is growing, even though a large portion of the audience might not be real. That begins to look very similar to fraud.
What about Instagram?
Meta is not just Facebook. Instagram remains extremely popular, with more than 3 billion users. The platform continues testing new features that may even compete with other major services. For example, the short-form video format Reels is positioned as a direct alternative to TikTok.
Many signals suggest that Meta is placing a strong focus on Reels. The platform is already testing a feature where Instagram may open directly to Reels instead of the traditional feed.
Instagram has also started labeling AI-generated content. Although this has not reduced the amount of such content — if anything, it continues to grow — it could create some challenges for affiliates using free traffic from Instagram.
This will only become a serious issue if Instagram begins limiting reach for AI-generated content. If the platform takes such steps in 2026, many affiliates could face significant losses.
Conclusion
In 2026, Meta will move toward even deeper automation and AI integration. Algorithms, AI assistants, chatbots, and even AI-generated accounts will increasingly influence advertising and user behavior. While some of these developments may benefit affiliates, others may result in spending more money on low-quality traffic.
The chronological feed in the EU could reduce engagement and ad impressions, while fake activity may complicate metric analysis and increase traffic costs.
At the same time, Meta’s primary focus on Instagram will likely remain Reels. This could create excellent opportunities for generating even more free traffic — assuming the feature expands beyond its current testing phase.
What do you think about the latest Meta trends and how they might affect affiliates in 2026? Share your thoughts in our Telegram community, where we keep a close eye on the Ukrainian affiliate marketing industry!
Respectfully, your Geek!