Instagram is a highly visual social networking app that emphasizes photo and video sharing via its mobile app and is much beloved by celebrities, influencers, and e-commerce. Originally launched for iOS in October 2010 by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, the platform was later acquired by Facebook (now Meta) in 2012.
Like on other social media platforms, you interact with other users by following them, letting others follow you, liking and commenting on posts, tagging people, and direct messaging.
Instagram Key Features
- Photo & video sharing
Instagram’s core feature is photo and video sharing. To share a photo or video, users can either take a new photo or video using the Instagram app’s camera or choose one from their camera roll. Instagram also has a variety of filters and editing tools that can be used to enhance one’s posts. - Direct messenger
Instagram’s direct messaging system allows users to send private messages to other users on the platform. Users can have one-on-one conversations or create group chats to send and receive audio and video recordings, share documents and files, stickers, or send ordinary text messages to multiple users at once. - Stories
Instagram’s Stories feature allows users to share customizable posts that disappear after one day and are automatically saved to the private Archive after expiring. These posts, which could be a mix of short-form videos and photos, are displayed at the top of the home feed in a slideshow format. - Reels
Reels are short-form videos of up to 90 seconds or up to 15 minutes long that one can add to their profile. Similar to TikTok, Instagram allows users to add music, text, and special effects to their Reels. The platform gives Reels much more prominence and exposure than regular posts and stories, which makes this feature even more valuable for brands and creators to promote themselves.
Instagram for Business
Instagram is not just a regular social media platform for personal use but also an invaluable tool for businesses. Business accounts on Instagram offer features such as insights and the ability to promote posts. Instagram also has a shopping feature where companies can create shoppable posts that allow users to purchase products directly from the app.
Advertising on Instagram is also a popular option for businesses. Instagram allows businesses to create ads that appear in users’ feeds or Stories, which can be targeted to specific demographics.
In conclusion, whether you’re a business owner, an aspiring influencer, or an everyday social media user, Instagram is a powerful social media platform that offers many opportunities for self-expression and creativity.