<b>Explore placement is gated by save velocity in the first 30 minutes, not total saves</b>

<b>Explore placement is gated by save velocity in the first 30 minutes, not total saves</b>
It is rate, not volume. Two posts with identical final save counts diverge sharply on Explore reach.

— Top-quartile early save velocity: ███████ 38% of reach from Explore
— Median: ███ 12%
— Bottom quartile: ▏ 2%

The ranker reads early save acceleration as a proof-of-value spike and opens cold distribution. This is why your first-hour audience quality dominates everything downstream. A small, highly-engaged seed beats a large passive one for Explore entry.

<i>n=900 posts, 45-day window.</i>