To just not 'get' instagram?

[Herbarium]

Or any personalised social media.

I know, I will be a minority, as the success of SM pretty much proves that , but to be really honest, I just generally don't get it.

What I want to know is why people consume it so much. Why would some random individual's life with niche hobby or kids or pets or artwork make for such persistent nose to screen viewing, as opposed to real life, lived experience, where we touch, see, feel the elements, etc?

I would probably answer - instant gratification for the creator, and an easily accessible global content for the consumer.

It's certainly a money maker for the 'content creators'. One niche hobby woman (not famous, just gives 100% of her private life to insta) with 30K followers regularly gets given expensive cars, holidays, and so on. It is certainly interesting in a social context in that it has shifted, dramatically, the way many young people perceive 'work'.

But the reason for my AIBU is that I can't understand the endless worship in the comments, the mindless emoji's and the overall lack of any substance. I appreciate the corporate element (insta/fb) just wants people to move quickly, not linger, hit likes and SEE ADS! I get this, but I don't get why people bother leaving a smiley emoji for a person with so many followers it is meaningless.
Is it devaluing meaning? I just don't know.

I only go on there for abstract art, but I do see stuff, stuff gets pushed in front of me, lol. I must be anti social perhaps because unless I have something to ask or say I don't bother liking or commenting. My life gets in the way.

The world just seems berserk to me lately, not just war, debased political figures, social and political division, but this seemingly endless mediocrity online reflecting us, too.
I guess I am menopausal and feeling a bit low, or possibly wouldn't give it much thought. But everything looks less and less authentic and nobody seems interested in depth or true communities of user support - just hit and run populism.

It's AIBU so i wont apologise for wall of text but hey, have at me!

You are not alone. I went on it and it was just a load of random nonsense from random people. I just don't get the appeal.

I feel the same OP

I can’t even work out how to use it, so gave up, don’t think I’ve missed anything

I think the more you search the more it’s learns what you like so pushes more of the same.

So eventually you’re only seeing what interests you. Tailored viewing!

Not that I watch it either.

The world just seems berserk to me lately, not just war, debased political figures, social and political division
So why not have a little browse of pleasant things on Instagram? Not everything has to be deep and meaningful.

If you comment, instagram will show you similar content. So eg you follow landscape photographers and comment ‘mindless’ emojis or ‘nice shot’ ‘good one’ ‘great work’ etc, instagram will show you more photos similar to the one you’ve interacted with.

I think it depends on what you are following and searching. I follow a lot of (not famous) artists. I love seeing the development and progression on their work.

I also follow some hobby sewists, weavers and pattern makers so get great hobby inspiration.

Forgive me but I don't think it just depends upon what one follows.
Most popular content is similar in it's mediocrity and ubiquity. It doesn't matter if it is a landscape painter, a zen practitioner or a dog rehomer. Most popular individuals speak the same lingo and tread the same rat wheel, to me. Because they know the masses will relate.

Yanbu I don't get it either
Never have

Facebook in its heyday sort of satisfied a bit of a nosiness & chatiness, everyone was just friends with basically anyone they ever met, and was pretty open on there but also wasnt putting anything serious on there, data wise. Just keeping up to date with old school & uni mates when we all live a bit further apart these days. It was rather nice when people used to post their wedding pictures and baby news etc. I would see Judy from accounts at my former job's holiday snaps in Mexico and think "oooh, that looks nice" and it would be a conversation started next time we chatted "your pics looked fab! Were you near Cancun?".

Instagram never even had that, the whole crap where you have to very obviously follow people and everyone is monitoring who is engaging with their stories makes it all dull as ditchwater.

And it's all just full of ads now and promoted content and what have you.

Also, most of them are aware that they have to produce the same content into infinity to please the algorithm. If they have any kind of creative diversion or wish to experiment, shit goes under. This forces creators to produce repetitive content perpetually.

If you comment, instagram will show you similar content.

Isn't it terrible? Life becomes a big echo chamber, constantly affirming that everyone agrees with you, likes the same as you, by keeping you in a bubble of your own limiting opinions.

As i said, i don't think my issue is due to 'seeing the same content pushed at me'. I search and diversify my interests, and everyone is the goddamn same. It's twee, self conscious, and mediocre. Anyone with any depth on there will soon get it drubbed out of them. It turns people into automatons.

I have faith in the human race to a good extent, but not what SM does to it.

I think your post is s bit confusing. Are you objecting to the medium of Instagram or the phenomenon of "influencers" whichever medium they use?

I don't really "get" Instagram because I can't really understand how to interact with it. It seems to be designed to share photos and convey a general mood without words, which could be quite appealing, but people seem to use it to run whole businesses and friendships which I find baffling but just figure I'm old and haven't devoted the time to learn. I think in theory the medium of Instagram could be s positive thing: learning how to convey something complex in a picture,.

But then your commentary seems to relate to the culture of celebrity and insta fame, which is a different question altogether. Interest in the banality of random people's lives is not new but would probably have cented around magazines before? I'm sure there's plenty of psychology around what people get from this kind of hobby but surely not everything in life has to have s higher purpose? Sometimes it's just downtime and escapism and that surely has its place?

I love Instagram! Cant figure out most other social media but IG works for me.
I'm a cross stitcher and no one in real life is really that interested but I’ve connected with other stitchers on Instagram and we share wips and finishes and encourage each other.

Agree about the escapism, and that might be where I can't relate.
I would rather use a good vibrator, read a good book or people watch in a nice city centre

I find with the arts, most people give the illusion of support but are really competing. It's sad.

I find with the arts, most people give the illusion of support but are really competing. It's sad.
You seem very cynical.

"... to convey a general mood..." (@longestlurkerever )

Spot on.

Positive fake ooh aah mood at an ideal existence. Even though most people know it's only the rose tinted glasses version of people's lives.

But I'm on Instagram and get inspired by it. Punch me out of it please.

I'm mid 30s and never been on Instagram, I deleted fb about 4 years and that was the best thing I ever did, can't be bothered with the rest of it. I use mn and WhatsApp and that's about it.

I’ve not found it like that at all. Not saying no-one's like that but people cross stitching for themselves don’t really have anything to compete about.😆 I've only found it a positive place. I know it’s definitely got it’s shitty side but for me it’s great. I've made actual proper friends from it.

I get why you don’t like it and I have studied the psychology aspect also, but you seem to not want others to be able to enjoy it either. It’s just one way to pass time. You mentioned a vibrator, a book, people watching. That’s three options. So you surely get there’s many ways for people to pass time and we don’t all like the same thing.

Interesting. I follow a few museums, some needlework people, one or two nature reserves and an astronomy site. It’s definitely the escapism - sometimes the only way to keep going despite the horrors of the daily news is to watch an owl or admire someone’s neat stitches. Especially during the daily commute, which is no place for a vibrator or people watching and sometimes too early for a book.

I’m not interested so I don’t go on it at all. Plenty of ways to idly pass the time, I don’t see that it’s any better or worse than other things people do. Distill most things down to the basics and they can be made to be utterly pointless - football, who gives a shit? But does it matter if it gives someone a spark of joy, however fleeting?

I kind of agree and disagree with you. For example, I agree, I think there is a perception among a certain demographic that it constitutes 'work' and being an 'Influencer' is a legitimate job title to aspire to, which honestly seems vacuous, self-absorbed and utterly dull.

But I disagree that it always encourages a life lived 'nose to screen'. I think it can often enhance experiences or point you outwards to discover things you might not otherwise have known about.

For example, I follow art posts, so I'm alerted to exhibitions that might not have been on my radar (Katy Hessel @ great women artists for example is fantastic at highlighting really interesting shows you will want to go to, and giving little histories on women you may never have heard of).
The account @ Art for Charity Collective, auction contemporary artwork in aid of some really niche charities. They do hilarious and entertaining auctions on instagram live where you can pick up some proper a/w and donate to a good cause.
Or the artists support pledge is a hashtag and movement where artists sell their a/w for £200 and then pledge to buy another artists work with the money - an example of real support, not competition.

I mean I could go on.... But if you make your profile private so that you are only sharing with accounts you are interested in, and you find your vibe, it can be a really interesting place.