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!

I didn't even realise you were supposed to be o 'like' stuff, that just seems silly. I have FB as I like to look at a few groups regarding my home town and sometimes useful for road closures where I am now but for the most part I see it all as a complete time waster.

I can't understand the concept of 'followers' which apparently one can be to some random person who neither knows nor cares that you're breathing!

So much trouble is caused through the use of the social media, 'she said, he said' 'you didn't respond within a nanosecond' 'you didn't 'like' my baby's millionth picture quickly enough', the list could be almost endless. If social media didn't exist, would the majority be happier?

So it’s alright for you to go and look at ‘abstract art’ but other people looking at different stuff that interests them are stupid and have no life….uhuh

I use Insta for inspiration for my side project, which is nature based. I follow lots of different people in this area that come at it from different angles and it helps me think outside my own bubble and encourages creativity.

That said, I also go to local talks, watch webinars and visit nature reserves too. It's the combination that enriches my life, rather than Insta alone. For instance, I might see that a particular migratory bird has been photographed for the first time this year in the UK and that inspires me to keep a closer eye out in nature reserves. It's also nice to share my passion with other interested people, and that is more difficult in real life.

It's absolutely brilliant if you are a sewist. You can search for patterns and see lots of finished garments so you can get a good idea if the pattern will work for you.

I took a look at many of these sites, and quickly decided that watching paint dry would be a better use of my time.

Not all at once I hope

What's the link @YouTeco I ain't clicking ?

I'm nearly 28 and don't have social media either. Society these days is just shocking, and full of wannabes. Take me back to 2009 where YouTube was harmless and ad free.

It is it all the same as mebook and twatter people who think the world is interested in their lives

I follow a few insta mums that are interesting, and I'm intrigued as to why I can't keep up with that type of image -

So she basically has neutral everything for her sons, beautifully turned out, everything coordinates. She mentions her bath routines for them - so she speaks about their bath products she uses, the special moisturiser they have. What style of school shoes her son has and where they can be purchased as they're a 'classic' look

Someone will say well it's all staged, but I couldn't even stage that? I just couldn't get it right. There are loads like her, not 'insta famous' but large mum following - where all the boys have really tasteful stuff and the mums 'live and breathe' for their sons

I enjoy instagram. I use it for book reviews, makeup reviews & style inspiration. These are some of my hobbies. I also like looking at pictures of other people’s dogs and occasionally babies. I’ve gleaned some good baby tips from instagram. Some people just enjoy looking at pictures of a new lipstick? Not everything has to be so deep bro.

I find it quite sinister tbh (all social media, not just instagram). It makes me think of the Matrix - everyone plugged in, unknowingly being controlled by a machine. I got rid of all social media about 6 months ago and it has freed up a lot of time and energy. I used to use it for work (typical ‘influencer’ industry) but realised that it was taking far more from me than it gave and that is now my measure of whether I use any sort of tech/app - I ask ‘what do I get from this’ and ‘what does it take from me’ and if the balance is in my favour it stays, otherwise it goes. So something like maps, camera or music apps are good - draining social media is not. You’ll notice I’m still on mumsnet - maybe I shouldn’t be!

The Instagram you describe is not one I recognise. I would say your issue is with 'influencer culture' which is across a number fo areas of life (and to be fair, has kind of existed in some form ever since 'celebrities'- pretty sure a lot of fashion trends were set by the courts of princesses/Marie antionette etc) and the current form it takes. I don't really get this current influencer online world either. But also...it doesn't affect me

I use Instagram to follow and share with people I know in real life but maybe dint get to see everyday as we live in different countries/places, and I love the format of stories and seeing what they are up to/how rhein kids have grown since I last saw them, celebrate key moments in a visual way (in addition obviously to keeping in contact via phone/messages) etc

I know you are adamant it's not about what you follow, but I would say that Instagram is a tool and you are using it in a certain way to tap into a world you don't care about rather than one you do