For some time now I have tried to ignore the phenomena that is Instagram. At the start of the year when I posted about how I intended to use social media I ignored Instagram altogether. Last week however, having read an article in Professional Photography magazine on Instagram for Business, I finally relented and signed up.
One of the things that has been holding me back is the fact that Instagram is owned by Facebook which, as I have documented elsewhere, is not my favourite social media platform. So how and why do I justify using this other organ of the Zuckerberg empire?
- Though it’s owned by Facebook Instagram is a far simpler platform (you basically just show images) and there is probably less screwing around its owners can do. Not only that Instagram still seems to retain a good deal of autonomy. That said they have apparently just changed the algorithm that controls how your images are shown to others so they no longer appear chronologically but according to what Instagram thinks you will find most interesting.
- I like the simplicity of the platform. Unlike a blog, the design and layout of the page is fixed. You just need to concentrate on uploading great images. Sometimes less can be more. Like with Twitter and its 140 character limit, constraints can sometimes be good for creativity.
- From what I have seen so far Instagram does not seem to suffer from trolling like other platforms. Admittedly it’s early days though.
- I’m not too sure about the Instagram filters yet. None of them really appeal and I prefer to do my edits in Lightroom/Photoshop still. This maybe because I have not fully got into the Insta’ way of working yet though.
I’m not sure yet how diligent I’ll be about using Instagram and how often I’ll update it. Like all social media accounts views/likes are no doubt in proportion to the regularity of your updates. It also appears that hashtags are key to getting users. Basically adding as many relevant hashtags to an image seems to be the name of the game here.
For now Instagram is a bit of an experiment which I’ll play around with for the next month or so. It will be interesting to see if it gets me more views on this blog. Watch this space as they say.
Peter Cripps | Photography 
Your instincts to stay off instagram were the correct to begin with. Just look around and experience the platform you have joined. If there is such a thing as visual corruption, not that we don’t experience enought of this cyber insanity already, instagram is an insult to anyone with eyes.
Hi Dominic, There is indeed a good deal on Instagram that is not to my liking as there is on many platforms. That said, you can of course choose who you wish to follow and by and large filter out what you don’t want to see. For now I’m enjoying the variety of the images I am seeing from the people I have chosen to follow.
[…] an Instagram account and linked both my website/blog and that account together (in both […]