What is the point of Instagram?
By Fleur
@Fleura (30539)
United Kingdom
October 20, 2016 10:33am CST
I’m asking this because I genuinely don’t know. And since to even look at what it is all about you have to join, which I have no intention of doing, I’m asking you guys.
My understanding of Instagram is that it seems to be for people to post pictures with captions. All I know about it is from reading news stories such as ‘Kim Kardashian posted pictures of her jewellery’ or ‘Some teenager has become a millionaire after posting pictures of their beautiful body’ or ‘Rich kids show off their haul after a shopping trip’.
So is Instagram just for showing off?
If so why does anyone else bother to look?
In real life we condemn bragging and showing off, so why do people who do this in the parallel online world gather legions of admiring followers?
Why do all these other people spend their time looking at pictures that must just make them feel worse because they don’t have the diamonds, the designer clothes or the sculpted (artificially or otherwise) bodies?
Are you an Instagram follower?
All rights reserved. © Text and image copyright Fleur 2016.
10 people like this
13 responses
@WorDazza (15830)
• Manchester, England
20 Oct 16
My daughter uses it quite a lot. It does seem to be basically just for posting captioned pictures from what I understand.
I would have thought that other social media sites could be used for this so having one specifically for the purpose seems a tad niche. But what do I know???
3 people like this
@RasmaSandra (80659)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
20 Oct 16
I am not a follower. I got railroaded into joining because someone told me I could post pics from my PC as well. Since I do not take pics with my phone I just keep the account there but do nothing. Probably will delete that account.
2 people like this
@fluffysue (1482)
• United States
20 Oct 16
I use it a little, but it does seem a little redundant when we have Facebook, too, where you can tell more of a story. I think it's more useful for people who don't mind making their posts public, and want strangers to see their pictures. However, it is an interesting way to "follow" people through pictures. For example, I went on a cruise in May, and now I follow the awesome ship's captain (Captain Kate) because she always posts beautiful pics of the ship and its destinations. I also follow my friends and like their pics, but we are usually also posting the same pics on Facebook.
I also prefer to post pictures of objects (food, scenery, etc.) or my cat (because she does not care. lol) rather than people, or myself, because it seems difficult to make the account totally private. But somehow I've ended up tagged in friends' pictures, which doesn't exactly thrill me. Oh well.
1 person likes this
@LeaPea2417 (37369)
• Toccoa, Georgia
9 Jul 17
Yes, I have an Instagram account and follow people and take my own photos. I like taking pictures and I like learning about other people through their photos. I found a make up artist on Instagram who I would have never found if I hadn't had an account. I have learned a lot from her make up tutorials. I think Instagram is a great thing.
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
20 Oct 16
never bothered with instagram
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
21 Oct 16
I'll be reading the comments, I have no idea what it is but see some labeled photos on Face Book every once in a while.
1 person likes this
@Poppylicious (11133)
•
21 Oct 16
If you like photography and want somewhere to show off your photos it's an okay place. I don't follow anyone unless I know them, and I'm not interested in the celebrities or those who post just for the sake of it. I post every day because I do a photo a day project. I like it.
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (20046)
• United States
20 Oct 16
I had joined instagram to follow a photographer that was on the B site. But I hardly get on there. It's a site to show off photos.
1 person likes this
@snehakeshri (449)
• Mumbai, India
20 Oct 16
no actually i am not but my sisters judge everything based on pictures
1 person likes this
@thislittlepennyearns (62922)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
20 Oct 16
I have it. Its mostly pictures of the pets, the kiddo and food. But I have seen pictures that some people post of all the expensive stuff people post.
1 person likes this
