Internet speak

UGC

UGC (user-generated content) is content made by customers or fans rather than the brand or artist, like reviews, unboxings or reels using a song.

Also called: user-generated content, UGC creator, UGC video

By Aulto · Last reviewed 23 Oct 2026

Why do brands want UGC?

It looks and feels like a real person's recommendation, which people trust more than ads.

A creator paid to make content in that real-person style for a brand to use in its own ads and posts, often without posting it on their own account.

Every reel that uses your song is UGC. Making it easy for fans to use your music, with a clear hook and a trend idea, is a way to grow it.

A skincare brand reposts customers' before-and-after reels and pays a UGC creator for three ad-style videos.

Influencer marketing
Influencer marketing is a brand working with creators to reach their audiences, paid in money, products or both.
Trending audio
Trending audio is a sound or song that many reels are using right now, shown with an arrow next to its name on Instagram.
Barter collab
A barter collab is a creator collaboration paid in products or services instead of money: the brand sends something, and the creator posts about it.
Algo
"Algo" is short for algorithm, the ranking system that decides what a social app shows people, as in "the algo pushed my reel".

Smart links, pre-saves, bio pages and Reply Drop for Instagram, in one place.