If you’re living in 2020 and happen to own a smartphone, you’d have to be living under a rock to not recognize the name “Instagram,” a social media app launched in 2010. When it was originally founded, Instagram quickly rose in popularity, surpassing other previous applications like Facebook and Myspace.
An app dedicated in photo and video sharing, it succeeded in ways even Facebook could not, being especially popular with the younger generation. Throughout it’s time on our feeds, we’ve witnessed the rise of “Instagram models” and other influencers who have managed to create a platform for themselves on the app. We’ve also watched small businesses and brand names marketability blow up thanks to the app’s quick sharing and accessibility.
A couple years into its creation, it was quickly bought by Facebook, most likely to stay relevant and to compete with other social media branches like Twitter and Snapchat. Throughout the past few years Facebook has riddled Instagram with many new updates, with some being great and some not so much. We’ve seen the emergence of Instagram stories, a whole new logo, the ability to share multiple photos, even the new update of Instagram “reels,” a video sharing icon that closely replicates TikTok.
However, with many of the new updates, it appears that Instagram’s popularity is waning. Many users have complained about the updates Instagram has selected within the past few months; updates they believe will harm the app in the long run. As a fellow Instagram user myself, I’ve found it increasingly difficult to connect with friends and family lately because the app has started prioritizing advertisements over the people I follow.
For example, when I scroll down my feed every third or fourth post is an ad, and often people I do not know, care about, or follow pop up as well. Instagram has taken out the chronological order so, when you scroll down, you’re often seeing posts based on how popular they are instead of seeing the full timeline you should. The app also has created a new update where it only allows you to scroll for 20-25 posts before announcing that you’re up to date, which prompts it to recommend new accounts for you to follow.
These new updates are hurting small businesses and influencers greatly. Instead of giving everyone equal sharing time, Instagram appears to prioritize the posts that are making the most revenue, ignoring the ordinary people who are simply trying to stay up to date with friends and families. On top of this, Instagram has been testing a new layout, one that replaces the “Notifications” tab with a new tab primarily for shopping.
Many influencers and users have spoken out angrily about the new updates, claiming it’s affecting their ability to grow and expand their businesses/profiles. In a time where small businesses are under an extreme level of stress to make a profit, Instagram is no longer giving them the ability to do so. This has made users turn to other apps, such as TikTok or Twitter, to search for a feed that allows them to reach a larger audience.
Overall, it seems apparent that Facebook and Instagram have chosen profit over their users, consumerism over enjoyment. Twitter user @chillforme_ said, “Instagram must think they’re too big to fail, they’ll join myspace if they’re not careful.” It is unsure if we will witness the downfall of this social media app in the next few years, but if people continue to turn to newer apps it will become a possibility. Right now, its users are unsatisfied and it’s only a matter of time before the next best thing comes along.
Dani Moore can be reached at [email protected].