Instagram has acknowledged that a glitch caused its recommendation system to repeatedly suggest Creed’s 1999 hit “Higher” as background music for its Stories feature, regardless of what users were posting, according to a CNN report cited by Consequence.
Some users noticed the song among their suggested tracks over the past few months, regardless of what they were posting or their activity on the app. Some wondered whether the band had struck a promotional deal with Meta to increase the visibility of its work.
An Instagram spokesperson told CNN: “We looked into this and found that this song is being recommended to more people than intended.” The spokesperson added: “We’re continuing to investigate.”
Instagram’s music recommendations draw on several factors, including users’ previous song selections and visual details from the photos or videos they upload. The company has not explained what specifically caused “Higher” to be surfaced so frequently. Its engineering team is looking into the issue and working on a fix.
Some users have also reported an increase in recommendations for Soulja Boy’s “Turn My Swag On.” Instagram says that recommendation is legitimate and reflects the song’s popularity on the platform.
The episode comes amid a broader revival for Creed, which returned to touring in 2024 after more than a decade away from the stage. Earlier this year, the band hosted another installment of its Summer of ’99 and Beyond Cruise.
See Creed live
Upcoming Creed events with tickets available:
- Dec 11, 2026 — BleauLive Theater At Fontainebleau Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada · Get tickets
- Dec 12, 2026 — BleauLive Theater At Fontainebleau Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada · Get tickets
- Dec 14, 2026 — Yaamava Theater at Yaamava Resort & Casino, Highland, California · Get tickets
Tickets are sold by GetUrTix. Code GTIX20 takes 20% off the ticket price at checkout — no minimum, no expiry.
Source: Consequence
