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Instagram logo next to Scott Stapp of Creed
It’s been more than 25 years since Creed released “Higher,” which put the band on the map when it came out in 1999. The karaoke staple has had plenty of staying power, but Instagram had to apologize after a bug made the song appear more popular than it actually is.
The turn of the millennium is defined by a zeitgeist built on a foundation of cultural artifacts that encapsulate the spirit of that particular era, and I’d argue one of those totems is the music of Creed.
The rock band formed in Tallahassee in the mid-90s and is defined by the post-grunge aesthetic at the center of songs that feature the unmistakable vocals of Scott Stapp, the lead singer whose gravelly delivery drives hits like “With Arms Wide Open” and “One Last Breath.”
You can’t talk about Creed without mentioning “Higher,” which topped the Alternative charts and peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 after it was released as a single for the band’s second studio album, Human Clay, in 1999.
That song has experienced a bit of a rebirth over the past few years while becoming an anthem for multiple sports teams; the Rangers adopted it during their World Series run in 2023, and Kirk Cousins said it helped propel the Vikings to a win over the Bears in 2024.
However, if you’ve found yourself routinely exposed to it in your Instagram recommendations, there’s a reason that was the case.
Instagram said a glitch was responsible for amplifying Creed’s “Higher” on the platform
If you go to upload a post on Instagram, you’ll have the chance to pick a song or some form of audio to accompany it, and the platform will typically recommend potential options based on an algorithm that’s supposed to weigh the type of content, your personal tastes, and what’s trending at the time.
According to CNN, many users have been puzzled by the sheer amount of “Higher” they’ve been subjected to when going to share something in recent months to the point where the outlet felt a need to look into the matter.
The company conducted an internal investigation on its behalf, and a spokesperson confirmed Creed was getting an artificial bump due to some sort of bug, saying:
“We looked into this and found that this song is being recommended to more people than intended.
“We’re continuing to investigate.”
They also noted some people have reported similar issues with Soulja Boy’s “Turn My Swag On,” but the spokesperson confirmed the algorithm is working as intended when it comes to that song.