In the 21st century, people are gaining knowledge or information from different kind of media such as television, newspaper, and some online websites. Nowadays, social media has taken the place of these traditional media tools to deliver message to the global population. Among different kind of social media platforms, Instagram became one of the most popular platforms. The ability of combining visual appeal with powerful messaging is what making Instagram stands out from the rest and become one of the most influential social media platforms especially among younger audiences.
Instagram has a large user base, and big part of the user are mostly youngster. The global Instagram population of worldwide that was aged below 34 years old is more than 50% and 16.5% of them were between 18 to 24 years old (Statista 2023). The general usage of Instagram is normally for users to share their life. Instagram is designed as a two ways interaction application, which also provide space for the users to communicate and have interaction online. But somehow, as people that love to show off became more and more, Instagram has become a place for people to compete. The teenagers in this new era, is more willing to be recognised online in the virtual world then in real life (Iocscience, Rahmayanti & Fauzi 2021). Instagram is focusing on sharing life moments and gain recognition online. This is important as it affect teenagers’ self esteem and consumer behaviour. Instagram is bringing up the culture of comparison which will leads to anxiety and depression.
As a user of Instagram, this platform is effective when it comes to informing the public. In Instagram, there is tons of different contents in this platform. The content you will like or you might like will appears on your feed. The algorithm of Instagram that is designed to personalize the content and shows the user content that matches their interest is what make Instagram an effective media to inform the public. Besides, Instagram can also make sure that their users are continuously engaging with the information or content that is relevant to themselves. The user engagement will be maximize, and the way important information reaching out the right audience will also be much easier.
On Instagram, there is some content that is not allowed, such as hate speech, violence and threats, nudity and sexual content, and misinformation. Instagram show features of truth-telling that are both dishonest and truthful. It allows communication and self-expression through providing aesthetically pleasing information that accurately reflects users’ cultural trends and areas of interest. However by giving some posts more attention than others, the platform’s algorithm produces bias and misleads users into believing false things. Users are regularly exposed to audiences who do not fit conventional narratives and an incomplete view of reality as a result of this selective visibility. Voices from minorities or those on the margins are usually overlooked.
In conclusion, Instagram is a powerful application for teenagers. It blends visual appeal with personalized content to inform users. However, it will affect younger audience’s self-esteem and consumer behaviour and spread wrong information.
Reference list
Iocscience, P, Rahmayanti, L & Fauzi, L 2021, ‘The Use of Instagram Social Media as an Interaction Media in Shaping Adolescent Lifestyles’, Journal of Basic Science, vol. 10, no. 3, pp. 78–85.
Statista 2024, Global Instagram User Age & Gender Distribution 2023 | Statistic, Statista, Statista.