How It Has Changed: The Evolution and Adaptation of Instagram basis for a successful environment for companies and individuals to do business. Thanks to Instagram, the definition of business has expanded. This extension allowed Instagram users to function as extensions of established businesses and even create their own on the app. Individuals create their “personal brands” by promoting their own products and/or services or by partnering with major brands sponsoring their content. Today, Instagram “influencers” create and perfect their own images for public consumption. An influencer is a type of micro-celebrity who targets other specific individuals, who exert influence over a large pool of potential customers (Abiden 72). Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay Once a strong and attractive brand is on the saturated platform, users can leverage their large followings to get more sponsorships. Businesses are taking note and turning to more popular, highly followed pages for branded offerings. So users with fewer subscribers are having a much harder time getting noticed right now (Racked). Buying followers is a central ethical dilemma that many small bloggers consider tackling to attract corporate attention (Lieber). In addition to using less than honest methods to gain traction on the app, users will also go to great lengths to cultivate an image of perfection (Lieber). Advertising and perfectionism have gone hand in hand for years (Suggett) with the use of celebrities and models to promote the products and services of major brands. So it’s no surprise that influencers are trying to exploit the idea of perfectionism to capture the attention of brands. Instagram is an area where the concept of desired perfectionism is exacerbated. Perfection images are more accessible to all users as they scroll through the app. It’s no surprise that Instagram is one of the biggest culprits in eroding the mental health of younger generations (RSPH 18). The ability to brand yourself has increased expectations for how people will look and behave through the app. Influence on the platform has become a commodity. Instagram has evolved from a simple interpersonal photo-sharing app to a platform on which individuals now create their own profitable public fronts. Instagram now has the ability to turn people into businesses, analogous to growing a business in the real world. This phenomenon has created an environment in which people now hold rating value based solely on the number of followers they can have. As a result, the platform has a drastic impact on the self-esteem of participating individuals in a world where humans have become, so to speak, legal commodities. The intersection of self-esteem, pseudo-relationships, and the intense idealization of influencers' respective lives has serious implications when determining whether influencers' opinions are both valid and worthy of trust. Users of the app and society as a whole may be unable to identify credible sources.HistoryInstagram began as the evolution of another unreleased app called Bourbn. The creatorsStanford graduates Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger modeled Instagram after Bourbn, an overly complex photo-sharing app with features like earning points for checking in on locations, posting content and making future plans (Garber). After realizing Bourbn's unrealistic complexity, Systrom, the original developer, invited Krieger to simplify the application for easier consumer use. Using data analysis from testing the Bourbn prototype, they discovered that the most used aspect was photo sharing (Garber). With the new information, the couple rebuilt their app solely around the idea of photo sharing. Thus, Instagram was born. A few hours after its launch on October 6, 2010 (Roberts), the system crashed due to high traffic (1). After a night of troubleshooting, Systrom and Krieger got the app back up and running within 24 hours. During this period, 25,000 people signed up for an Instagram account (1). Although the platform hasn't had a smooth start, the app has yet to see a downward trend. Nine months after its launch, the application had 7 million users (1). The exponential growth of photo-sharing apps in the ever-changing digital age has made Facebook take notice. Two years after Instagram launched, the social media giant purchased Instagram for $1 billion in cash and stock (Fell). Systrom and Krieger still run the company today with 800 million users and 500 million daily active users as of 2017 (Instagram Business Team). One estimate indicates that in 2017, 70.7% of US businesses use Instagram and 80% of users follow a business account (eMarketer, Instagram Business Team). Ten years later, Instagram now reigns as an indispensable part of the communication and marketing methods of the digital age. A project built from Systrom's love for photography transformed into a communications giant used not only for photo sharing, but also for marketing brands, products and services. Ability to Turn People into BusinessToday, social media has become one of the most widely used techniques for creating and sharing personal content with other people. That being said, social media goes far beyond just staying in touch with friends and family and has become a popular source for businesses. So it’s no surprise that brands have started using social media as a marketing tool to promote and increase their sales. Since its launch in 2010, Instagram has become one of the largest social media platforms used to advertise and promote one's business or oneself (Coelho 1). Likewise, through Instagram, the company has become familiar with terms like “influencers” and “brand ambassadors.” "Because Instagram gives people the ability to use personal storytelling to capture an audience, many users have used this to their advantage by turning into commercial products. Arielle Charnas, who many Instagram users may know being under the name @SomethingNavy, is a great example of someone who has effectively used Instagram to become a brand Having started as an online blogger and e-commerce specialist for the retail store Singer 22, Charnas used. her followers on her blog to build an audience on Instagram (SOURCE) Since her Instagram profile was focused on fashion, Charnas posted content such as her outfits of the day, basic tips on her style.of life and its beauty, as well as places to shop at a lower cost. By posting daily and interacting with her audience, Charnas was able to gain the 1.1 million followers she has today (SOURCE). As she quickly became a “super influencer,” well-known brands such as Steve Madden, Sunglass Hut, and department store Lord & Taylor were willing to pay her between $1,500 and $3,000 for an Instagram post (Charnas 1 ). As she built her following and sponsorships, @SomethingNavy was able to land a project, creating her own clothing line with Nordstrom. Teaming up with the famous department store and creating “Something Navy Charnas credits Instagram and listening to feedback from his followers for his first successful launch. She said: ...as an influencer, my platform gave me the resources to data and real feedback by listening to my followers and seeing what they were passionate about on my Instagram. We felt compelled to use this incredible knowledge to give my followers what they wanted, we hope to build on this formula for success and continue to listen carefully to my incredible audience. (Charnas 1) Without Instagram, @SomethingNavy would not have been aware of what its buyers wanted to see incorporated into its line. The use of social media, especially Instagram, depended greatly on the success of his clothing brand. Charnas' success with @SomethingNavy is a great example of Abidin's statement in Internet Celebrity: Understanding Fame Online: "Instagram has become the social media platform on which people turn their digital fame into a personal brand and ultimately a business” (Abiden). The increased use of Instagram for self-esteem is becoming a global concern. Studies show that mental health issues, such as body image issues related to social media use, are a major problem for younger generations today. Despite the promotion of Instagram as a means of self-expression through photo sharing, a recent study published by the Royal Society of Public Health (RSPH) cited Instagram as the most detrimental influence on the mental health of younger generations. RSPH's survey of almost 1,500 people found that Instagram is considered to have the most negative impact on a user's mental health (RSPH 18). The study reflects what many Instagram critics proclaim, that the platform's transition from a simple photo-sharing app to one where one can edit their life to appear perfect, or "star-worthy." 'Instagram' has created an environment in which individuals now have to deal with their own lives. inner inadequacies every time they open the app. Given that Instagram features people posting carefully curated photos every day to highlight the best aspects of their lives, it's no wonder the study suggests: "Approximately 70% of 18-24 year olds would consider undergoing a cosmetic surgical procedure” (RSPH 10). With Instagram used as a platform for individuals to present perfect personalities, it acts as a constant reminder of a person's insecurities. Self-esteem can be boosted when you feel accepted by others. Instagram adds another dimension with the “Like” button, so in addition to wanting to feel accepted, you can also feel like you’re approved. You can scroll through the likes of photos and see who else has approved (or, sometimes, more importantly, who.).

Essay / How It Has Changed: The Evolution and Adaptation of Instagram basis for a successful environment for companies and individuals to do business. Thanks to Instagram, the definition of business has expanded. This extension allowed Instagram users to function as extensions of established businesses and even create their own on the app. Individuals create their “personal brands” by promoting their own products and/or services or by partnering with major brands sponsoring their content. Today, Instagram “influencers” create and perfect their own images for public consumption. An influencer is a type of micro-celebrity who targets other specific individuals, who exert influence over a large pool of potential customers (Abiden 72). Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay Once a strong and attractive brand is on the saturated platform, users can leverage their large followings to get more sponsorships. Businesses are taking note and turning to more popular, highly followed pages for branded offerings. So users with fewer subscribers are having a much harder time getting noticed right now (Racked). Buying followers is a central ethical dilemma that many small bloggers consider tackling to attract corporate attention (Lieber). In addition to using less than honest methods to gain traction on the app, users will also go to great lengths to cultivate an image of perfection (Lieber). Advertising and perfectionism have gone hand in hand for years (Suggett) with the use of celebrities and models to promote the products and services of major brands. So it’s no surprise that influencers are trying to exploit the idea of perfectionism to capture the attention of brands. Instagram is an area where the concept of desired perfectionism is exacerbated. Perfection images are more accessible to all users as they scroll through the app. It’s no surprise that Instagram is one of the biggest culprits in eroding the mental health of younger generations (RSPH 18). The ability to brand yourself has increased expectations for how people will look and behave through the app. Influence on the platform has become a commodity. Instagram has evolved from a simple interpersonal photo-sharing app to a platform on which individuals now create their own profitable public fronts. Instagram now has the ability to turn people into businesses, analogous to growing a business in the real world. This phenomenon has created an environment in which people now hold rating value based solely on the number of followers they can have. As a result, the platform has a drastic impact on the self-esteem of participating individuals in a world where humans have become, so to speak, legal commodities. The intersection of self-esteem, pseudo-relationships, and the intense idealization of influencers' respective lives has serious implications when determining whether influencers' opinions are both valid and worthy of trust. Users of the app and society as a whole may be unable to identify credible sources.HistoryInstagram began as the evolution of another unreleased app called Bourbn. The creatorsStanford graduates Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger modeled Instagram after Bourbn, an overly complex photo-sharing app with features like earning points for checking in on locations, posting content and making future plans (Garber). After realizing Bourbn's unrealistic complexity, Systrom, the original developer, invited Krieger to simplify the application for easier consumer use. Using data analysis from testing the Bourbn prototype, they discovered that the most used aspect was photo sharing (Garber). With the new information, the couple rebuilt their app solely around the idea of photo sharing. Thus, Instagram was born. A few hours after its launch on October 6, 2010 (Roberts), the system crashed due to high traffic (1). After a night of troubleshooting, Systrom and Krieger got the app back up and running within 24 hours. During this period, 25,000 people signed up for an Instagram account (1). Although the platform hasn't had a smooth start, the app has yet to see a downward trend. Nine months after its launch, the application had 7 million users (1). The exponential growth of photo-sharing apps in the ever-changing digital age has made Facebook take notice. Two years after Instagram launched, the social media giant purchased Instagram for $1 billion in cash and stock (Fell). Systrom and Krieger still run the company today with 800 million users and 500 million daily active users as of 2017 (Instagram Business Team). One estimate indicates that in 2017, 70.7% of US businesses use Instagram and 80% of users follow a business account (eMarketer, Instagram Business Team). Ten years later, Instagram now reigns as an indispensable part of the communication and marketing methods of the digital age. A project built from Systrom's love for photography transformed into a communications giant used not only for photo sharing, but also for marketing brands, products and services. Ability to Turn People into BusinessToday, social media has become one of the most widely used techniques for creating and sharing personal content with other people. That being said, social media goes far beyond just staying in touch with friends and family and has become a popular source for businesses. So it’s no surprise that brands have started using social media as a marketing tool to promote and increase their sales. Since its launch in 2010, Instagram has become one of the largest social media platforms used to advertise and promote one's business or oneself (Coelho 1). Likewise, through Instagram, the company has become familiar with terms like “influencers” and “brand ambassadors.” "Because Instagram gives people the ability to use personal storytelling to capture an audience, many users have used this to their advantage by turning into commercial products. Arielle Charnas, who many Instagram users may know being under the name @SomethingNavy, is a great example of someone who has effectively used Instagram to become a brand Having started as an online blogger and e-commerce specialist for the retail store Singer 22, Charnas used. her followers on her blog to build an audience on Instagram (SOURCE) Since her Instagram profile was focused on fashion, Charnas posted content such as her outfits of the day, basic tips on her style.of life and its beauty, as well as places to shop at a lower cost. By posting daily and interacting with her audience, Charnas was able to gain the 1.1 million followers she has today (SOURCE). As she quickly became a “super influencer,” well-known brands such as Steve Madden, Sunglass Hut, and department store Lord & Taylor were willing to pay her between $1,500 and $3,000 for an Instagram post (Charnas 1 ). As she built her following and sponsorships, @SomethingNavy was able to land a project, creating her own clothing line with Nordstrom. Teaming up with the famous department store and creating “Something Navy Charnas credits Instagram and listening to feedback from his followers for his first successful launch. She said: ...as an influencer, my platform gave me the resources to data and real feedback by listening to my followers and seeing what they were passionate about on my Instagram. We felt compelled to use this incredible knowledge to give my followers what they wanted, we hope to build on this formula for success and continue to listen carefully to my incredible audience. (Charnas 1) Without Instagram, @SomethingNavy would not have been aware of what its buyers wanted to see incorporated into its line. The use of social media, especially Instagram, depended greatly on the success of his clothing brand. Charnas' success with @SomethingNavy is a great example of Abidin's statement in Internet Celebrity: Understanding Fame Online: "Instagram has become the social media platform on which people turn their digital fame into a personal brand and ultimately a business” (Abiden). The increased use of Instagram for self-esteem is becoming a global concern. Studies show that mental health issues, such as body image issues related to social media use, are a major problem for younger generations today. Despite the promotion of Instagram as a means of self-expression through photo sharing, a recent study published by the Royal Society of Public Health (RSPH) cited Instagram as the most detrimental influence on the mental health of younger generations. RSPH's survey of almost 1,500 people found that Instagram is considered to have the most negative impact on a user's mental health (RSPH 18). The study reflects what many Instagram critics proclaim, that the platform's transition from a simple photo-sharing app to one where one can edit their life to appear perfect, or "star-worthy." 'Instagram' has created an environment in which individuals now have to deal with their own lives. inner inadequacies every time they open the app. Given that Instagram features people posting carefully curated photos every day to highlight the best aspects of their lives, it's no wonder the study suggests: "Approximately 70% of 18-24 year olds would consider undergoing a cosmetic surgical procedure” (RSPH 10). With Instagram used as a platform for individuals to present perfect personalities, it acts as a constant reminder of a person's insecurities. Self-esteem can be boosted when you feel accepted by others. Instagram adds another dimension with the “Like” button, so in addition to wanting to feel accepted, you can also feel like you’re approved. You can scroll through the likes of photos and see who else has approved (or, sometimes, more importantly, who.).

Navigation

« Prev 1 2 3 4 5 Next »

Get In Touch