React Native Social Media App: Feed Algorithm, Stories, and Real-Time Engagement

Social media apps require real-time features, efficient feed rendering, and engagement mechanics that keep users coming back.

Feed Algorithm

interface FeedPost {
  id: string
  authorId: string
  content: string
  media: MediaItem[]
  likes: number
  comments: number
  timestamp: number
  score: number // calculated ranking score
}

function calculateFeedScore(post: FeedPost, userId: string): number {
  const recency = Math.max(0, 1 - (Date.now() - post.timestamp) / (24 * 60 * 60 * 1000))
  const engagement = (post.likes * 1 + post.comments * 3) / 100
  const affinity = getAffinityScore(userId, post.authorId)
  return recency * 0.3 + engagement * 0.5 + affinity * 0.2
}

Stories Feature

Implement Instagram-style stories with viewer lists and analytics:

interface Story {
  userId: string
  items: StoryItem[]
  viewedBy: string[]
  expiresAt: Date
}

interface StoryItem {
  type: 'image' | 'video' | 'text'
  mediaUrl: string
  duration: number
  stickers: Sticker[]
}

Real-Time Engagement

Use WebSockets for live likes, comments, and typing indicators.

The Bottom Line

The RN Social Media from BreafIO provides feed, stories, profiles, and messaging. The Real-Time Chat adds DM features. The RN Chat Messenger provides mobile messaging. The Analytics Dashboard tracks engagement metrics, and the Subscription Hub handles premium features.