Instagram as a social media platform

2. Presentation Overview
Our course will explore “patterned
human behavior” and “ structural
inequality” as they relate to Digital
Media.
My discussion platform is
Instagram.
In this presentation, I will…
•Provide a brief overview of
Instagram
•Discuss why we use it or the
patterns of human behavior
surrounding Instagram
•Make arguments as to the
relationship between Instagram
and inequality

3. What is Instagram?
Social media platform launched
on October 6, 2010
Over 800 million users
Visual Storytelling by sharing the
world’s moments

4. Why Do We Use
Instagram?
•It’s
• Free
• Fun
• Visual
• Social
• Provides an avenue for
social causes
•Works well with other social
media, like Facebook and Twitter
•Allows for better than average
quality images - allows for creative
expression
•Let’s you pick and choose who will
see your photos
•Allows for two way
communication
• Posting is only half of it
• Being able to comment and
communicate is just as
important

5. Importance of Two
Way Street
“The ability to connect and
contribute to ongoing
conversations about news via
posting comments and/or content
on social networking sites and
blogs was highly valued by the
teens we interviewed, as was the
immediacy of the exchanges.”
(Livingstone, 2009; Singer et al.,
2009; Watkins, 2009)
Young adults like Instagram
because they can be a part of the
conversation. It’s not just about
looking at someone’s photo…it’s
about becoming a part of the
journey.

6. Instagram and
Inequality
•Sharing photos about all your
vacations gives the impression you
many have more resources than
someone else
•There is a group, Rich Kids of
Instagram
•CUNY Graduate Center did a
study documenting where locals
and tourists take pictures in NYC
• “Inequality of Instagram
images by locals and tourists
turns out to be bigger than
inequalities in levels of
income, rent and
unemployment.”