Instagram – The Best Social Media Platform For You to Explore

Instagram is a social media platform for sharing images and videos that was created in 2010 by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger and later acquired by American company Facebook Inc. Users of the app can upload media that can be edited with filters, arranged by hashtags, and categorized by location.

Public or pre-approved followers may share posts. Users can view trending content, like photos, follow other users to add their content to a personal feed, and browse other users’ content by tag and location.

History of Instagram

A recent Stanford University graduate, Kevin Systrom was employed by the travel recommendations startup Nextstop in 2009. Systrom had previously interned at Odeo, a business that would later become Twitter, and worked as a corporate development associate at Google (GOOG) (TWTR). While working at Nextstop, Systrom learned to code on the side because he had no formal training in computer science.

In the end, he created a web app prototype called Burbn, which was influenced by his preference for premium whiskey and bourbon.

Users of the Burbn app could check in, post their plans, and share pictures. Even though location-based check-in apps were very common at the time, Burbn’s photo-sharing feature stood out.

Facebook Acquires Instagram

The app’s user base increased to about 27 million people by March 2012. When Instagram for Android phones was released in April 2012, it was downloaded more than a million times in less than a day.

The business was also on the verge of securing a $500 million valuation in a new round of funding at the time. Through Stanford-hosted events, Systrom and Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg got to know one another, and they kept in touch as it began to rapidly gain popularity. A key stipulation of the offer, which was made in April 2012, was that it would continue to be managed independently. Facebook (now Meta) offered to buy the company for about $1 billion in cash and stock.

Facebook moved forward and bought the business soon after, just before its initial public offering (IPO), for $1 billion in cash and stock. In November 2012, it released a website interface with a few features. The business first released an app for the Amazon Fire device in June 2014, and then in 2016, it developed an app that enabled compatibility with Microsoft Windows tablets and computers.

What is Instagram best for?

The best social media site for interacting with your followers is actually Instagram. It draws younger generations more than other social media platforms because it is visual, straightforward, and appealing. You’ve probably found a ton of brand-new goods and services on it thanks to friends who have tagged businesses in posts or through paid social media advertisements.

Over 500 million people log on to it each day, with over 800 million users monthly. It is a network to engage and connect with your base for brands and retailers. The time spent there is quite astounding.

How to use Instagram – Create an Account

You’ll need to download the app and create an account before you can use it.

On iOS, Android, and Windows devices, it’s totally free. Although there isn’t an app specifically designed for iPads, you can still use IG on your iPad by adjusting your App Store settings to locate the app. You’ll be asked to either create a new account or log in with your Facebook account when you first open the app.

If you decide to create a new account, the procedure is simple:

Your full name, phone number, email address, preferred username, and password will be required.

A very useful feature if you want to, say, run separate accounts for personal and professional use is the ability to create and switch between multiple Instagram accounts after creating an account. Although it is primarily intended for mobile devices, the once very limited desktop experience has steadily improved over time.

Today, you can access it through a web browser on your computer and use it to edit your profile, view your feed, like and comment on posts, and send and receive direct messages. There is a workaround in your browser settings if you’re unsure how to post images and videos from your computer.

Create your profile

• Your profile displays your Instagram handle, profile picture, bio, and more.
• Your profile displays your Instagram handle, profile picture, bio, and more.
• When you first set up your Instagram account, you’re going to want to set up your profile.
• Your profile page is a hub for all your photos and videos, where you can keep track of who you’re following and who’s following you.
• It’s also where you can access your settings.

Keeping your username, profile picture, and bio up to date is recommended because profile pages are frequently the first thing people look at. Your profile picture serves as the icon next to your username on the platform, and your bio is a place where you can give a brief introduction to your brand or yourself. If appropriate, you can also include a link to your website.

You can modify your profile page at any time by selecting “Edit Profile”:

Customizing notifications

Making sure you receive the appropriate notifications at the appropriate times is essential for keeping up with others on it.

You have the option to select which push notifications the platform sends to your device. For instance, you might want to be notified when someone follows you or comments on one of your posts.

Or perhaps you’re getting too many pings and want them to completely disable notifications.

It’s time to start sharing now that you have the app downloaded and your profile created.

Instagram App

On October 6, 2010, the app was released, and within one day, 25,000 users had downloaded it. It had been downloaded 100,000 times by the end of the first week, and by the middle of December, there were one million active users. The timing of the app’s release turned out to be fortunate because the iPhone—which featured a better camera—had just recently launched in June 2010.

Additional terms and features for Instagram

1. Instagram Story: A 24-hour period during which a story is viewable. A story may include text, audio, video, links to other posts and websites, as well as polls and interactive responses that encourage reader participation. Swiping upward on a story will also allow users to reply to a direct message. When a glowing ring appears around a user’s profile picture, tap it to access their story.
2. Face filters: It uses augmented reality (AR) lenses to add visual effects to photos and videos found on a story, much like Snapchat does with its face filters.
3. Instagram filters: Before a photo is posted, it can be given a pre-made filter.

The opacity can also be changed by users to control how much each photo will be altered.

4. Direct Messages: Instagram’s built-in private messaging service. Use the paper airplane icon in the top-right corner of the application’s homepage to direct message a user. Instagram and the already-existing Facebook Messenger platform were integrated in September 2021, enabling cross-platform messaging with Messenger users through the DM feature.
5. Instagram Live: A live streaming service made available through a user’s story

It live streams allow users to receive and reply to comments in real time while simultaneously showing two camera feeds. Users can also invite other users to join.

6. Instagram TV: Instagram TV, also referred to as IGTV, is a feature available in the app for watching videos longer than a minute.

Instagram TV, in contrast to standard Instagram videos, offers video controls like pausing and panning.  The maximum duration of a video on IGTV is 60 minutes.

7. Instagram Reels:

Instagram Reels, which was released in August 2021, is the app’s response to rivals like TikTok.

Users can access brief, portrait-oriented videos made using a library of sounds from creators and musicians by tapping on the central Reels icon at the bottom of the interface.

Instagram Lite

For active social media users looking for a free photo and video sharing platform that uses less data and phone storage, Instagram Lite is the more portable alternative.

This app is for you if you enjoy staying in touch with your loved ones but want to do so more affordably. The majority of the features from the original photography app are present in this version.

You can use both versions simultaneously without creating a new account, giving you options based on the availability of your data.

Instagram search

Using keywords, you can search it to find images and videos, hashtags, accounts, audio, tags, and locations.

• Tap the search icon at the bottom to access Search & Explore on Instagram.
• Click Search in the top search bar.
• Begin typing the person or thing you want to look up, and then tap the search key on the keyboard’s lower right corner.
• To filter your results, select Top, Accounts, Audio, Tags, or Places below the search bar.

Remember that you can access a page of pertinent images and videos from the Instagram app by tapping the suggested keywords at the top of Search & Explore.

Best time to post on instagram

Mondays at 11 a.m., Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Thursdays and Fridays between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. are the best times to post on Instagram. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the best days to post on it. Sundays are the worst day to post on it.

It experienced a growth spurt in 2020 and 2021, and by the beginning of 2022, it had amassed 2 billion monthly users.

While TikTok is becoming a stronger competitor for short-form video content, it continues to thrive as it introduces new features and improves those it already has.

Reels have made it simpler to make and find videos on the app, and Instagram Video has been given new life and expanded to 60 minute videos. Its most popular posting times increased in 2021 as compared to previous years, much like Facebook’s other well-liked app.

While weekday afternoons became denser with peak times between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., evenings and weekends continued to show more opportunities for engagement.

It is still used as a platform for finding new brands, goods, or services. Additionally, the app’s user experience is changing as a result of new or expanded ecommerce features. In actuality, 44% of app users make weekly purchases. It makes sense to expand the app to include ecommerce capabilities because the platform is built on sharing high-quality photos.

How to delete your Instagram account

You might be craving more time to spend offline with the people you love and less time oversharing your life online due to the pandemic doomscrolling, the disturbing revelations about how harmful it is for teenage girls, or even just your own personal preferences. You have two options if you’re done with it for whatever reason.

Delete your account permanently without giving anything back or take a break for a while (deactivate your account with the intention of coming back later like Britney Spears).

Note: Download your data before deactivating or deleting your account.

You can use a desktop or mobile browser or an app to request your data.

Open a web browser on your phone or desktop if you’re ready to delete or deactivate your Instagram app.

Your account cannot be deleted or deactivated through the app, then adhere to the steps in this manual.

• Log into your Instagram account on the website.
• Visit the page for account deletion.
• From the drop-down menu, select the justification for your account deletion.
• Retype your password.
• Click or tap the delete button after that.

According to Instagram, it will take 30 days for your account and data to be permanently deleted. Your account won’t be visible during that time.

How to deactivate your account

• Visit the Instagram website and sign in with your account information.
• Click or tap on your profile in the top right corner, then select “Edit Profile.”
• Click or tap “Temporarily disable my account” in the bottom right after scrolling down.
• Re-enter your password after selecting the reason for deactivating your account from the drop-down menu next to “Why are you disabling your account?”
• Select or tap “Temporarily disable account.”

Note: Open the app and sign in if you want to reactivate your account.

How to download your Instagram data

From a computer

• After signing into your account, click Settings next to your profile picture.
• Select Security and Privacy.
• Click Request Download after scrolling to the Data Download section.
• Type your email address and press the Next button.
• Type in your Instagram password, then select Request Download.
• An email containing a link to your Instagram data will be sent to you. To complete your information download, click Download Data and then follow the on-screen directions.

 From the app

• Visit your profile after logging into your account.
• Select Settings by tapping the menu button in the top right corner.
• Tap “Download Data” after selecting “Security.”
• Click “Request download” and enter your email address.
• Tap Next, then Done after entering the password for your Instagram account.
• An email containing a link to your Instagram data will be sent to you.
• To complete your information download, click Download Data and then follow the on-screen directions.

From a mobile browser

• Visit your profile after logging into your account.
• Select Settings, and then select Privacy and Security.
• Select Request Download under Data Download by scrolling down.
• Tap next after entering your email address.
• Tap Request Download and enter your Instagram password.
• An email containing a link to your Instagram data will be sent to you.
• To complete your information download, click Download Data and then follow the on-screen directions.

Alternative to Instagram

Check out Flickr and other programs that are comparable. These apps are similar, but they also differ in a few ways.

• Meetup
• Facebook
• Moco
• Facebook Lite
• Skout
• POF (Plenty of Fish)

Pros and Cons of Instagram

Pros

• Instagram shows you content to your liking
• Instagram is easy to use
• Building a personal brand on Instagram is easy
• Privacy is possible
• Direct messaging
• Business accounts

Cons

• Instagram can be time-consuming
• Limitations when posting

FAQs

How do I post to Instagram?

Open the app first. Then you press the bottom plus button. The next step is to select the photo or video you want to post.

You have the option of adding the photo or image from your camera roll or taking one directly from the app.

Can I use Instagram on my PC?

You can view your feed, like and comment on posts, view your profile, and follow or unfollow people on it  using a web browser on a PC or Mac. Sending and receiving direct messages has recently been made possible on Instagram. However, you cannot upload pictures or videos. But you can try some workarounds.

Why is Instagram so popular?

It is popular due to the massive exposure users receive from using hashtags, following others, and remaining active. There are numerous examples of people finding success by using it to gain notoriety, money, or employment.

Can I find famous people in Instagram?

There are more than 800 million users on Instagram, so celebrities are a given.

When Was Instagram Launched?

When it first debuted on October 6, 2010, only iOS devices could use it.  Within just two months, the app had one million registered users, and by 2018, there were one billion.

How did they become so successful?

The emphasis placed by Instagram on photo sharing and commenting resulted in high levels of user engagement and word-of-mouth advertising as users persuaded friends and family to sign up. It was well-liked due to its user-friendly interface and in-demand features.

Users, who are known for having short attention spans, were prompted by this combination to scroll through numerous posts and, in a sense, develop an addiction to the app.

What is the main purpose of Instagram?

In 2012, Facebook purchased Instagram, a free online photo-sharing tool and social media platform. Through a mobile app, it users can edit and upload pictures and quick videos.

What is the difference between Facebook and Instagram?

Facebook is a free social media platform where users can share a variety of posts and information with other users, whereas Instagram is a free, online photo-sharing social media platform and application.

Can I view Instagram without account?

Knowing the username is the simplest way to view a profile on Instagram without having an account. Simply type http://www.instagram.com/username into the search bar on the internet. You can also view profiles by searching for the Instagram account of the person or business.

Can I use Instagram on web?

It is accessible on a PC. Simply go to instagram.com and enter your phone number, username, email address, or Facebook account to log in.

You can browse your feed, respond to direct messages (DMs), see your notifications, and update your profile with photos and videos, and more on Instagram’s web platform.

How do I open Instagram in browser?

Go to Instagram.com in a web browser, sign into your account there, and then. Use the web version in the same way that you would a mobile app.

What is your Instagram web link?

Go to username.instagram.com.

If the username is “John Smith,” for instance, enter instagram.com/johnsmith in the URL field. To copy the link at the top of your browser, click the post you want to save.

Conclusion

While the number of users has increased steadily since Meta (formerly Facebook) acquired the company, it has made only a small number of changes to the app, maintaining its straightforward and intuitive interface and primary emphasis on photo- and video-sharing features. Despite the high cost of its acquisition, it appears that Meta made a wise investment in the company.

It was the second-most downloaded free app in 2018 (behind YouTube’s free mobile app) in the Apple app store.

About Author