Students and Instagram

November 15, 2018

 

When Instagram launched in 2010, most students were under the age of 10. Yet 8 years from their inauguration, 89.6%* of students indicate that they do have an active Instagram account. Most students use the app for its original purpose: to post their own content. However, many students do admit to following Instagram influencers. Senior Jennie Verhey uses Instagram frequently as a place to document her trips and other events. She affirms that who she follows does construct a pseudo-branded identity:

“I follow people like Emma Chamberlain and her friends. They definitely promote brands or are brand ambassadors. [Emma Chamberlain] promotes Urban Outfitters and other basic stores that teenage girls use. I see her clothes, and whether I know it or not, I’m influenced by it.”

Her personality, she thinks, is definitely different on Instagram than in real life: “I think maybe [my profile] comes off as more confident and humorous than I would seem just walking down the hallway.”

Ellie Dawson-Moore, a 9th grader, carefully crafts her captions, photos, and stories on Instagram.

“I try to make [my posts] funny, so I think about the caption. But I don’t really check it once it has been posted, because I don’t really care about the likes. I leave it alone for a bit.”

I think maybe [my profile] comes off as more confident and humorous than I would seem just walking down the hallway

— Jennie Verhey

She understands, however, the social harms of oversharing information and teenage advertisements on Instagram.

“I think it’s obnoxious, and I skip past them when I see them on my feed. For every generation, there’s been a thing that the other generations didn’t have and thinks is unnecessary. I don’t think the older generations should judge, because the generations before them did. People tend to put the best parts of themselves and their lives on their feed. That can lead people down a sad path if their trying to compare themselves to filtered bodies, faces, and lies when it isn’t even real, to begin with.”

The power to choose gives junior Peter Michel a nice balance with his Instagram feed. Michel, who admits to rarely posting on the app, believes it is a convenient tool for him to promote events he is a part of.

People tend to put the best parts of themselves and their lives on their feed. That can lead people down a sad path if their trying to compare themselves to filtered bodies, faces, and lies when it isn’t even real, to begin with

— Ellie Dawson-Moore

“If I’m following someone that I know over shares on their Instagram, it’s because I want to. It’s because I’m interested in what they have to say in a moments notice,” he said.

Verhey, an Instagram native since her middle school days, recognizes the app’s evolving presence in her life and in her generation:

“When we were thirteen to fifteen, I think we tried super hard and we posted only the good times, and we edited everything. It was a lot more filtered. But now it’s trendy to be more real. My Instagram may not be completely balanced with negatives and positives, but the positives are there, and then I’ll tell my friends the negatives. I still have that balance. An onlooker might not see the balance, but it’s not like they need to. I don’t think both sides need to be shared on Instagram, because if you have other outlets in your life to get that negative stuff out, then it’s fine.”

And along the line, perhaps other outlets will outcast Instagram. Or maybe ads will arrive via drone. The consumerism, however, persists.

*= In a poll sent out to students, of which 20% responded, 89.6% indicated that they have an active Instagram account

Leave a Comment

The Rubicon • Copyright 2024 • FLEX WordPress Theme by SNOLog in

Comments (0)

Comments are welcomed on most stories at The Rubicon online. The Rubicon hopes this promotes thoughtful and meaningful discussion. We do not permit or publish libel or defamatory statements; comments that advertise or try to sell to the community; any copyrighted, trademarked or intellectual property of others; the use of profanity. Comments will be moderated, but not edited, and will post after they are approved by the Director of RubicOnline.  It is at the discretion of the staff to close the comments option on stories.
All The Rubicon Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.