Optimizing generation of a feed of content for a user based on prior user interactions with the feed of content

A method comprising:

• transmitting a request for a feed of content from a client device to an online system, the request identifying a user of the online system and the feed of content;
• receiving the feed of content from the online system, the feed of content including organic content items in positions relative to each other;
• presenting, by the client device, the feed of content including the organic content items in the positions relative to each other;
• receiving a sponsored content item from the online system for presentation in a position of the feed of content after presenting the feed of content including the organic content items, the sponsored content item including a bid amount specifying an amount of compensation provided to the online system and content for presentation;
• modifying, by the client device, the feed of content to include the content from the sponsored content item in the position of the feed of content in conjunction with the one or more organic content items included in the feed of content based on positions of the feed of content previously presented to the user by the client device by:
• identifying an ending position of the feed of content presented to the user by the client device in response to determining the position of the feed of content previously transmitted to the client device associated with the user has previously been presented to the user via the feed of content;
• and
• inserting the content from the sponsored content item in an alternative position of the feed subsequent to the identified ending position of the feed of content, the alternative position of the feed satisfying one or more content policies from the online system restricting positioning of the sponsored content item within the feed of content relative to other sponsored content items within the feed of content;
• and
• presenting the modified feed of content by the client device.

A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having instructions encoded thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

• transmit a request for a feed of content from a client device to an online system, the request identifying a user of the online system and the feed of content;
• receive the feed of content from the online system, the feed of content including organic content items in positions relative to each other;
• present, by the client device, the feed of content including the organic content items in the positions relative to each other;
• receive a sponsored content item from the online system for presentation in a position of the feed of content after presenting the feed of content including the organic content items, the sponsored content item including a bid amount specifying an amount of compensation provided to the online system and content for presentation;
• modify, by the client device, the feed of content to include the content from the sponsored content item in the position of the feed of content in conjunction with the one or more organic content items included in the feed of content based on positions of the feed of content previously presented to the user by the client device by:
• identifying an ending position of the feed of content presented to the user by the client device in response to determining the position of the feed of content previously transmitted to the client device associated with the user has previously been presented to the user;
• and
• inserting the content from the sponsored content item in an alternative position of the feed subsequent to the identified ending position of the feed of content, the alternative position of the feed satisfying one or more content policies from the online system restricting positioning of the sponsored content item within the feed of content relative to other sponsored content items within the feed of content;
• and
• present the modified feed of content by the client device.