How do your teens use Instagram? Share with us for the chance to win a £300 voucher!

[EmmaMumsnet]

Instagram is now a huge part of our culture and is a staple for many teens (and adults alike!) whether they use it to share moments with their friends, run an account for your family pet, or simply to browse memes. We would like to find out how your teens use Instagram and what accounts you’d recommend for teenagers to follow?

Do your teenagers follow foodie, beauty, or music accounts for inspiration? Are they creative and use Instagram to share their own art or photography? Perhaps they are keen activists and use the platform to spread awareness and gain support for good causes?

Instagram have also pulled together this handy guide which explains all about the safety features you and your teens can use to make sure they are getting the best experience on Instagram.

Everyone who posts below will be entered into a prize draw to win a £300 voucher of their choice (from a list).

Thanks

MNHQ

Terms and conditions apply

DS not interested but DD, 16, uses instagram to see things that amuses or inspires her.

My DS 14 has blocked me on instagram so I have no real idea what he’s using it for! I know he frequently changes his username as well so I can’t track him down, the little ray of sunshine.

As far as I’m aware he and his friends share selfies and pics of when they’re out, share ‘amusing’ stuff (aka stuff that mum would disapprove of) and follow bands and gamers.

I don't have a teenager yet but when he is old enough I will discourage him from posting any photos of himself or his friends.

I don't use any social media myself - I much prefer forums like this where I can be anonymous and I hope that he will be the same, although that's highly unlikely as kids theses days seem to feel pressured into using them.

Dd and I opened Instagram accounts at the same time when Dd was 13 so it was a learning curve for us both.

The rule was she needed to post and reply/comment initially with my approval (oh and no duck faces because you will thank me later 😁) this proved a fantastic learning opportunity for a number of life lessons.

1. How to take a compliment, none of that "babe you are amazing, I'm not, you are etc" just a simple thanks works well.
2. If you can't comment anything nice on others accounts don't comment at all and it was interesting how many negative comments on her account when not responded to in anger or at all were quickly removed. They say more about the other person than you.

3.Think would you be happy for Granny to see that image before you post.

Dd used her account to post her lifestyle images she followed fashion, travel, makeup and animals initially.

She alway got a buzz when her images were reposted or tagged especially by a brand and this became a challenge.

Instagram was a massive window into how marketing, networking and advertising works and being a teen was not a hinderance.

Dd is now 19 and studying an Advertising and Editorial Photography degree, this was definitely influenced by her Instagram use and Instagram will play a big part in her future employment.

Nowadays she has a work and a private account and we use both to keep in touch whilst she is away at uni, tagging me in interesting posts, suggested Christmas presents, trips she would like to go on, home decoration, ridiculous dogs and competitions she is entering.

It's probably our most used way of communicating day to day and leads to phone calls and little parcels in the post.

It's funny she now monitors my page by suggesting an image of mine I should use or editing it for me.

My pre teens use it, but I have access to their accounts and I monitor usage every week or so

They follow fashion and holiday accounts mainly. I’m more concerned about the DM’s capability that what they’re actually viewing

My teenage daughter loves the beauty, she loves to watch the videos and eye make up, she does not post any pictures, which I am pleased about. However I feel peer pressure may feel she should post her selfies. I have her password and set her account to private and make sure she only has close school friends following her.

My oldest son has Instagram, he mainly follows his favourite footballers. I read the handy guide and immediately changed his settings, so thanks for that (I did not know the levels you could control the use of Instagram) So I feel a little more relaxed about him using it, I have shown the guide to him, and to look out for bullying posts (both for him and his friends posts) I have asked him to block anyone who posts anything unsavoury on his wall.

My dd has 3 accounts - 2 personal ones, one of which is public one private and a third account to share her artwork.

FB is hardly used by her generation as its for the oldies.

My teens use Instagram and Snapchat (but not FB) to socialise with their friends. I use Instagram to view art and to keep in touch with my artist friends but not to socialise really (sharing memes, etc). I trust my kids; unlike almost all of their peers, they don't do drugs and they aren't promiscuous.

Not implying all teens are promiscuous, btw, but most drink and smoke weed.

I thought the handy guide was so useful - there was so much I thought I knew - but there was so much I didn't know that I could do on the settings. My teenage daughter loves to follow her friends at school, and the England netball team who post their photos there. I have switched her account from public to private after reading the guide, and looked at her followers and removed a couple who should not have been there.

Not at all as far as I can see. One thinks Twitter is the only good platform. The other keeps forgetting her password. She follows a few people, keeps an eye on what primary school friends are up to, but doesn't post herself.

I don't think my boys use insta at all, probably because they think it's l'âme because their mum uses it on a daily regular basis

DD1 is 14 and has a couple of Instagram accounts; one related to her hobby and a private one. The hobby account is jointly run by me, is public and displays carefully chosen images of her doing her hobby/or at venues she's performing that hobby at (often after the event though). It's got her a few freebies and interest from related brands but she's going through a phase of not wanting her school friends to see things related to the hobby so we're currently talking about where to go with it next, not least because it connects to her blog which may be useful for securing work experience next year.

Her private account only has followers she actually knows and is used for posting pictures of her and her friends, the occasional sunset or Christmas lights display. She uses stories quite a bit with friends and enjoys watching theirs. On this account, she follows various youtuber people (some with more talent than others!) and make up accounts. She spends more time than I'd like watching videos on Instagram.

DD uses it to socialise, to text her friends, to follow famous people (mainly YouTubers and vloggers) and interact with them, and to "find out what people are doing". Her account is private - she is quite savvy about such things. It seems to be the first techy thing she does in the morning - check Insta!

DS uses it less than his sister - less for interaction with friends and more for 'news' and football stuff.

DD follows a lot of make up and clothing companies. She enters competitions, looks for inspiration and copies looks.
She also uses it to keep in touch with friends. She posts pictures of herself and friends, selfies, party looks etc. She is sensible and knows what not to post.
She was also super helpful helping me to sort out my Instagram account when someone took it over and started posting inappropriate pictures of themselves, so I know she knows how to keep herself and others safe.

My ds is in sixth form and used it when travelling. He posted lovely photos.

My 3 teens' accounts are private and they use them exclusively for posting selfies pulling silly faces for the amusement of their closest friends.

Mine both use it. DD more than DS. DD has 3 accounts; general, priv and one for the bit of modelling that she does, so uses it to profile the shoots that she's done - where she is allowed.

DS uses it for posting weird photos of himself for his friends' amusement, although I think most of it goes on Snapchat.

I don't see all of it, because I loathe the idea of spying on my children, but they share a lot of it with me. Most of it bores me stupid, as it is them and their friends basically being silly, which they find hysterically amusing and I find only vaguely interesting. However, I put on a good show, so that they keep bothering to include me.

Mine are both late teens and I've been chatting to them about online behaviour since they first started on Club Penguin about a million years ago. We've chatted about so many scenarios and issues that are encountered and they're both sensible about it.

My 15 year old daughter has Instagram. She uses it to follow beauty accounts, watches how to do her make up perfectly and for general use with her friends.
The safety aspect of it scares me. I do regular checks to see what accounts she follows and I also check her DMs.

My daughter wants to study fashion and uses Instagram to post designs and keep up with trends. She also follows a lot of artists and ethical designers and posts about similar. She has also been following a few vegetarian and vegan sites to get inspiration for meals. Not many of her friends use it . So far she has had a very positive relationship with the site and i of course keep an eye on her content and the comments.

Thanks for the guidance. DD is 12 so I won’t let her have her own account yet. She uses mine to follow stuff about kittens but I have control/ access at the moment.

The post above about the facility to rate friends is appalling. How the heck does that bring the world closer together?

My teen has no interest in Instagram, whatsoever.

My 14 year old uses it to communicate with friends. They share selfies and random photos of whatever they’ve found funny etc. My DS sliced his hand open on a glass Christmas bauble and this had to be photographed for Instagram before I could dress the wound. Madness.

His is private thankfully no sharing of bloody limbs with the world.

Will need to go read the guide you’ve posted.

My boys use Instagram to share memes, they follow their favourite football cub and players, they also use it to follow their favourite music artists and to get fashion inspiration for themselves. The accounts are private and I have made them very aware of the dangers that can follow if they share personal information with anyone or strangers. They are old enough to understand this.