Instagram has emerged as the default place to get famous. The world of Instagram is nothing less than that of showbiz, a place where everything is nice and glittery and everyone is beautiful. However, is Instagram really the awesome place it presents itself to be?
Maybe, no. Behind all the glamour, there are some serious shortcomings. Yet, it can’t be said that Instagram is terrible, by any stretch. So, here we are with the pros and cons of Instagram to make it easy for you to understand.
Contents
- 1 Pros Of Instagram
- 1.1 Medium That Is Very Visual
- 1.2 Effective Promotion
- 1.3 More Appealing Interface
- 1.4 Great For Travelers
- 1.5 Strict Privacy
- 1.6 Effective Features
- 1.7 Instagram Business Profile
- 2 Cons Of Instagram
- 2.1 Overwhelming Advertisements
- 2.2 Creates The Need For A Fake Life
- 2.3 Fewer Features On Web
- 2.4 Addictive!
- 2.5 Technical Drawbacks
- 3 FAQs
- 3.1 Why is Instagram not good?
- 3.2 Is Instagram free to use?
- 3.3 Which is better FB or Instagram?
- 4 Learn More About The Pros And Cond Of IG
- 5 Should You Run Away From Instagram?
Pros Of Instagram
Medium That Is Very Visual
Instagram is all about sharing photos. From sharing your new haircut and dress to some new cuisine or location, there is nothing you can’t share with the world. And a large number of amazing filters makes it an even more beautiful experience. By applying a filter, you can add more charm or glamour to your photos. Although, don’t use them that much, let your photos be true in most cases.
Effective Promotion
Originally began (like most social media sites) as a way to connect with others, Instagram today works as an effective marketing strategy. Established brands reserve their Instagram pages for showcasing their products, while new startups find it easier to create an audience via images here. Even individuals like models and artists can showcase their works and create a fan base. Instagram serves as an important platform today for social media marketing.
More Appealing Interface
One of the biggest advantages of Instagram is its interface. With so much visual content, you would expect it to be slow and messy. Contrary to that, Instagram is very neat and organized. Unlike Facebook, there is no flood of information that you can barely process. Also, the platform allows you to organize your profile in a very efficient manner, such that it has a nice appeal to it. This appeal is one of the reasons why people rushed towards Instagram despite other photo-sharing platforms.
Great For Travelers
Even though unintentionally, Instagram has emerged as a great hub for travelers. The geo-tagging feature works smoothly, allowing you to add the location of the pictures. Furthermore, you can see the other (public) photos shared by people who were at the same location.
Strict Privacy
Unlike other platforms, Instagram takes privacy very seriously. If you want your photos to remain private between your followers, then private they shall remain. There is no means to bypass privacy settings. Even the profile picture is private. Instagram also doesn’t allow the downloading of photos, though there are other means to do that.
Effective Features
Unlike Facebook (which gives a variety of useless features), Instagram is clear about what they should provide their users with. Apart from photo-sharing and filters, there is also the feature to share videos and live streams. You can also share stories, which would disappear after a day.
Quite smartly, Instagram provides additional functionalities via other apps, like Boomerang and Photo Grid.
And don’t forget that while posting to Instagram, you can seamlessly share your photos to your Facebook.
IGTV And Reels
When Instagram first enabled the users to share videos along with photos, the length of the video was restricted under 1 minute. But that changed with the introduction of Instagram TV or the IGTV.
On IGTV, you can upload videos of any length you want, which is awesome. Moreover, because of this, the entertainment factor with Instagram just reached another level. Now, users are exposed to a plethora of video content on Instagram, like compilations of funny videos and even movie trailers. Surely with IGTV, Instagram has become so much more than just a platform to share photos.
Instagram Business Profile
If you’re an influencer or a brand, then you must know what I am talking about. The thing is that you can very easily switch from your Instagram personal profile to a Business profile. But what are the benefits? Well, if you are promoting something on Instagram, then you have to make it easy for the people to contact you. And in the business account, your profile will show a “Contact” button.
Moreover, you get to decide what happens when people click on that button. Like you can enable the users to email, view your location, and call you through that button. And talking about connectivity, in Business profile, you can embed links to your stories if you have more than 10,000 followers. So, you can direct your viewers to the landing page with much more ease. Pretty convenient, right?
Cons Of Instagram
Overwhelming Advertisements
Of course, we’ve already applauded for the fact that Instagram is one of the best social media platforms to promote yourself or your brand. That said, too much of anything is a curse, and that’s the same thing that’s happening with Instagram. Instagram has become a place where you are bombarded with too many advertisements or sponsored posts.
Apparently, from companies to individuals, everyone can promote themselves on Instagram by taking out some bucks out of there pocket. But that shouldn’t be a bad thing, right? Well, it is seen as a bad thing when you see an advertisement after every 4-5 of your friends’ posts.
Creates The Need For A Fake Life
The most negative phenomenon observed after the popularity of Instagram was the sudden surge of teenage celebs. People became famous overnight for something that went viral, garnering thousands of followers. This created a craving in everyone’s heart to become famous. So many people tend to create a fake life, which they share on Instagram to get famous. This need for validation and fame is highly toxic, and teenagers are the ones most affected by it.
Fewer Features On Web
If you have ever used the web version of Instagram, then you might have realized that it lacks many features. Instagram is keeping its users close to the app and not providing much access to the web version. However, Instagram is slowly rolling out the same features of the app on its official website, like stories and others. But we cannot expect all the features on the web soon.
Addictive!
Another disadvantage is the addiction associated with Instagram. Like most social media platforms, Instagram suffers from toxic addiction. A huge number of people spend their days glued to the app. Even those who do not seek validation by uploading pictures spend their entire day viewing photos of others. In any scenario, this is a terrible waste of time.
Technical Drawbacks
Despite the great interface and features, Instagram suffers from many technical drawbacks.
The platform is optimized only for the app, hence its web-version is terrible.
The images are not optimized for every shape, like on Facebook.
The privacy settings are global, and cannot be set for individual photos. Also, third-party apps can compromise your account and subscribe you to a bunch of random accounts.
The tech support is not great. If you experience errors browsing your Instagram feed (for example, if you cannot refresh it or it does not post a photo) or problems with sharing your photos in other apps (for example, photos are not shared to Facebook), you will most likely be on your own to solve the problem.
Recommended Read: How To Add Temperature To Instagram Story
FAQs
Why is Instagram not good?
Instagram is not good because the photo-based platform is focused on the external part of life (as opposed to internal e.g. thoughts, feeling, reflections). It has been associated with increased anxiety, depression, bullying.
Is Instagram free to use?
Instagram is free to use; however, it injects ads into your feed and you “pay” by watching them.
Which is better FB or Instagram?
To understand which is better, FB or Instagram, look at your goals and the preferred type of posts. Image posts do much better on Instagram; meanwhile, text posts do better on Facebook.
Learn More About The Pros And Cond Of IG
Watch Kitty Contemplations explaining it:
Should You Run Away From Instagram?
Instagram is an amazing app and a great platform for sharing photos and exploring the world.
However, caution has to be exercised while using it, as now you are aware of the pros and cons of Instagram. The need for validation, obsession for fame, and addiction to an app are all toxic behavior and must be avoided at all costs. Parents should be aware that the impact of Instagram on kids can be especially bad.
If you need an app for mostly sharing your photos with friends, consider using WhatsApp. While it also has its own pros and cons, it’s far less addictive.
As long as you are aware of a potentially negative impact and are trying to avoid it, Instagram would remain a great platform for killing the time. However, if you are tired of it and looking for an alternative platform, check out our list of apps like Instagram. You may discover some other amazing platforms!
FAQs
What changes are coming to Instagram 2022? ›
2022 started with Mosseri introducing three new options – Home, Favourites, and Following to redesign one's Insta feed. Home will keep the whole thing unaltered and will let the algorithm take the call on suggesting posts which it thinks the user might be interested in.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of Instagram? ›| Advantages of Instagram | Disadvantages of Instagram |
|---|---|
| Increased market opportunities | Not work in all types of operating systems |
| Gets connected with other social media | Image theft issue |
| Impressive filters | Advertisement can be false |
| Help in earning | – |
- Not everybody has an iOS or Android phones. ...
- It is a highly technological tool. ...
- Instagram has limited features. ...
- Loss of copyright ownership.
This milestone would mark a significant increase from the 800 million users the platform had in September of 2017. Given these trends, it's safe to say that Instagram will still be going strong in 2022.
Can you see who screenshots your Instagram story? ›Whether you're screenshotting (or screen recording) a story, a post, or even a reel, Instagram does not notify the other user that you have screenshotted their content. But, when you screenshot a disappearing photo or video sent to you via direct message, Instagram does notify the sender of the message.
Can I see who viewed my Instagram? ›Instagram doesn't allow users to see who views their profile. So if you look through someone's profile and don't like or comment on a post, there's no way for them to know who sees the pictures.
What are Instagram's weaknesses? ›Weaknesses. From a publisher's perspective, Instagram's biggest weakness is that its web traffic is self-contained. Currently, there is no way to link to your site or drive traffic from the platform. If you build an audience on Instagram, you're going to need to engage with them on the platform.
What are the benefits of Instagram app? ›- Attract new viewers: On Social networking sites the content spreads worldwide really quick as people share all the content be it in form of pictures or videos. ...
- Connects you to your loyal consumers: ...
- Helps you build a social online circle: ...
- Share your content on other apps:
As nouns, the difference between disadvantage and advantage is that disadvantage is a weakness or undesirable characteristic; a con while the advantage is any condition, circumstance, opportunity, or means, particularly favorable to success, or any desired end.
What are the advantages of Instagram for students? ›- Continue Reading To Learn How Instagram May Help Pupils.
- Improves Your Language Skills.
- Photography Skills Are Nurtured.
- Emotional Intelligence Is Improved.
- Sharing Of Information.
- Interpersonal Skills Are Improved.
- Learning Should Be Enjoyable.
- Enhances Project-Based Learning.
Is Instagram safe for kids? ›
How old should kids be to use Instagram? According to the terms of service, you have to be 13, but there's no age-verification process, so it's very easy for kids under 13 to sign up. Common Sense rates Instagram for age 15 and up because of mature content, access to strangers, marketing ploys, and data collection.
What should I know about Instagram 2022? ›- There are 1.3 billion Instagram users worldwide in 2022.
- The average post on Instagram contains 10.7 hashtags.
- 70.8 percent of the billion monthly active users on the Instagram app are under the age of 35.
- Instagram users spend an average of 53 minutes per day.
Not only the growing popularity puts Instagram in a good light, but the numbers as well are painting a great ascension. eMarketer predicts that in 2022, the monthly Instagram users will increase from 804,4 million to 877,5 million. From a business perspective, Instagram communities are a gold mine.
Can you see how many times someone viewed your Instagram story? ›To look at who's seen your story, first open your story. On the bottom left, you'll see the number of people who have viewed each photo or video in your story. To see all usernames of the people who have viewed your story, tap on the profile pictures on the bottom left.
Can you see who saves your pictures on Instagram? ›No, there is currently no way to see who exactly has saved your post on Instagram. When it comes to likes, you are able to see which accounts exactly have liked your posts, but the same cannot be said for saves.
Does Instagram notify when you screenshot a picture 2022? ›As of July, 2022, Instagram doesn't send notification when you screenshot somebody's posts. It also doesn't send notifications when you take screenshots elsewhere in the app. You can screenshot away on someone's photos, videos, bio, or followers list.
Can you look at someone's Instagram story without them knowing? ›Install the 'Chrome IG Story' Chrome Extension. Open and login into the web version of Instagram. The Chrome extension will let you view all the stories on Instagram Stories without letting people know.
Can someone see that I viewed their Instagram story if we are not friends? ›'' The answer is no, you can see who has viewed our story, but not how often. In addition, you cannot see who viewed your Instagram story after 24 hours because that's when Instagram stories disappear and expire.
How can I know who visited my profile? ›No, Facebook doesn't let people track who views their profile. Third-party apps also can't provide this functionality. If you come across an app that claims to offer this ability, please report the app.
How safe is Instagram? ›How Safe is Instagram? With more than a billion monthly active users, Instagram is generally safe for many users. Users have access to many tools to ensure the security of their accounts, such as two-factor authentication (2FA), account activity logs, and various privacy settings.
What types of people use Instagram? ›
48.4% of all Instagram users are female while 51.6% are male. 31.2% of Instagram users are 25-34-year-olds. Out of the 25-34 age group, 16.4% are male and 14.8% are female users. 31% of Instagram users are 18-24 years old.
What are the pros and cons of social media? ›| Pros of Social Media | Cons of Social Media |
|---|---|
| Social Media Can Reach Large Audiences | Social Media Causes Sleep Issues |
| Government Benefits from Social Media | Social Media Cause Depression and Loneliness |
| Entertainment with Social Media | Social Media Causes Distraction |
Overview. Instagram has a consumer rating of 3.33 stars from 396 reviews indicating that most customers are generally satisfied with their purchases. Consumers satisfied with Instagram most frequently mention best app and free followers. Instagram ranks 7th among Mobile Applications sites.
What is the purpose of Instagram? ›Instagram is a free photo and video sharing app available on iPhone and Android. People can upload photos or videos to our service and share them with their followers or with a select group of friends. They can also view, comment and like posts shared by their friends on Instagram.
Why do people like Instagram? ›Instagram offers its users quick visuals for the sharing of information. You don't have to watch long videos to peek into your favorite celebrity's life. Since microblogging has become popular, people, apart from youtube, also prefer to share their life and activities through Instagram posts.
What can be improved in Instagram? ›- Optimize Photos. Take Good Photos. ...
- Maintain Posting Frequency. Post Often. ...
- Use Hashtags. Using hashtags when you post can help increase the number of followers. ...
- Include Post Captions. Use Simple Captions. ...
- Run Contests. ...
- Generate New Followers. ...
- Advertise.
- Build relationships. Social media is not just about brands connecting with their customers. ...
- Share your expertise. Social media gives you an opportunity to talk about what you know and what you want to be known for. ...
- Increase your visibility. ...
- Educate yourself. ...
- Connect anytime.
Social networking services can help young people develop their interests and find other people who share the same interests. They can help introduce young people to new things and ideas, and deepen appreciation of existing interests.
What are examples of disadvantages? ›The definition of a disadvantage is an unfavorable situation or something that puts someone in an unfavorable situation. An example of a disadvantage is a baseball player not being able to play. An example of a disadvantage is a baseball team's star player having to sit out because of an injury.
Why is Instagram a good social media platform for teenagers? ›One reason teens like to use Instagram is that it fosters relationships with their friends and community at large. According to the study, more than half (56%) of Instagram users surveyed said that “the platform makes them feel more connected to the people they know”.
How can social media benefit students? ›
Social media plays an important role in every student's life. It is often easier and more convenient to access information, provide information and communicate via social media. Tutors and students can be connected to each other and can make good use of these platforms for the benefit of their learning and teaching.
Why do kids love Instagram? ›There were three main reasons why teens love Instagram. You can share with others, you can communicate with others, and you can follow others. Instagram is often quoted as being a very positive place by many, but also criticised for being unrealistic.
Is Instagram safe for girls? ›Girls can make their Instagram account safe and secure by using some tips and tricks. See what to do and how to set it by going to settings. By changing your Instagram account to a private account, you can control who can see your post and who does not.
What parents should know about Instagram? ›The main things parents worry about are typical of all social media: mean behavior among peers, encountering — or creating — inappropriate or dangerous content, overuse, and of course, privacy. There is also the risk of users comparing themselves to others, which can impact their sense of well-being.
Should I put pictures of my child on Instagram? ›Ask Permission
If your child is at an age where they can understand and consent to their photos being shared on social media, then it's important to ask for their permission. If they ask you not to share a particular photo or any photos of them at all, you need to respect their decision.
Instagram is testing a re-post feature
The platform has been working on a repost feature since May 2022, according to app researcher Alessandro Paluzzi. However, Instagram has now confirmed to TechCrunch that the feature is now in testing “with select users.”
A new update in June 2022, has led some users confused about the sudden change in their Instagram background. For some users, their background has turned black as Dark Mode has been enabled. In the settings menu, under theme, the new update can be reversed and people can switch back to 'light' mode if they want to.
Did Instagram remove reels 2022? ›Starting in July 2022, most videos can only be shared as reels. Some videos won't be impacted by this change, including videos previously posted to feed and videos posted on Instagram Web. Reels isn't currently available to everyone.
Why is Instagram different now? ›“We're moving Instagram to a place where video is a bigger part of the home experience, where content is more immersive – it takes up more of the screen,” he said. That means posts now appear in a larger 9:16 ratio and take up more of the screen, with captions appearing on top of the photo instead of underneath.
Can you see how many times someone viewed your Instagram story? ›To look at who's seen your story, first open your story. On the bottom left, you'll see the number of people who have viewed each photo or video in your story. To see all usernames of the people who have viewed your story, tap on the profile pictures on the bottom left.
Why can't I see who viewed my story on Instagram 2022? ›
Can't See Who viewed my Instagram Story 2022? Meta has confirmed that the newer glitch is unrelated to the May 2021 issue, and as of January 5, 2022, all users should be able to see their Instagram Story viewership. If you still don't see it, try restarting the app.
Why can't I see all my posts on Instagram 2022? ›Most of time, when Instagram Not Showing New Posts, clearing the app cache will resolve the issue. So, To fix Instagram not showing new posts issue, clear Instagram app cache. To clear the Instagram App cache, For Android users, Go to settings >> Find Instagram App >> Tap on clear cache.
Why is my Instagram still old? ›If your Instagram isn't set to “update automatically,” there's a chance you're still using the old version of Instagram. It might be because of a Technical glitch. If it is the reason uninstall your app and delete its apk and other files from your phone file manager. Your account is a new one.
What is Instagram used for? ›Instagram is a free photo and video sharing app available on iPhone and Android. People can upload photos or videos to our service and share them with their followers or with a select group of friends. They can also view, comment and like posts shared by their friends on Instagram.
Can you hide your number of followers on Instagram? ›Make Your Account Private. When your Instagram account is private, only people who follow you can see your followers. If you're okay with your posts and stories being friends-only, setting your profile as Private is the closest you'll get to hiding your followers.
How do you get a blue check on Instagram? ›Tap in the top right, then tap Settings. Tap Account, then tap Request verification. Enter your full name and provide the required form of identification (example: government-issued photo ID or official business documents). Follow the on-screen instructions, then tap Submit.
Why do my Reels get no views? ›You don't post enough Reels
Don't expect to post one Reels and reach hundreds of thousands of people. Quite the opposite, the more you post, the higher your reach and engagement grow over time. For starters, you can try posting one Reels every week, gradually increasing the number.
The main differences are that creators have access to a music library, editing tools, and more filters on Reels than they do on videos, they can use audio from other creators in Reels but not in normal videos, and they can create a "remix" on Reels, which you can't do on regular Instagram video.
Does IG reel pay? ›Instagram pays out Play Bonuses based on the views you get on your Reels. Eligible creators with a business or creator account can earn money on Reels that generated at least 1,000 views within a 30-day period.