Instagram is a photo and video-sharing social networking platform launched in 2010 by Kevin Systrom and Mike Kriger. The app has made itself available in 32 languages which, alongside, Instagram’s user-friendly interface has allowed it to quickly become a market leader with over 1 billion active users. In 2012, Instagram was acquired by Facebook which allowed Instagram to develop into the social networking giant that it is today.
The app has become popular because of the many functions it has. These include sharing posts, videos, and texts, to starting an online business or blog.
With changing trends in business and the shift to e-commerce, more and more people, primarily Gen Z, tend to make purchases online rather than going out to a shop. Instagram has been vital in promoting new brands and small businesses through ads and suggestions made to its users, a recent report found that 60% of Gen Z shoppers use Instagram to find and discover new brands. For most Gen Zs, shopping through Instagram is convenient. Whereas, for businesses, it’s a way of promoting their brand, gathering data about the tastes of consumers, and gaining a wide following.
– Source
Instagram has also helped many youngsters start their brands and become influencers. Influencers are users with a massive following who can ‘influence’ trends and persuade others using their authenticity and promote their own (if they have one) as well as advertise other brands. Many Gen Zs have used platforms like Instagram to gain followers and launch their brands and become successful. Addison Rae, for example, is a TikTok user and influencer with more than 18M followers on Instagram. The 19-year-old was able to use social media to become famous and has become the 10th most-followed person on Tiktok and a co-founder of the Hype house, a group of creators who collaborate on various apps.
– Hype house creators
Social networking apps such as Instagram have also become news outlets for teens, with many teens using Instagram to stay aware of ongoing events. Activists have also started using the platform to voice their views and to shed light on injustice around the world. Every day we see more and more teens using Instagram to start fundraisers. In 2019, during a survey of people between the ages of 13-21, 65% of respondents revealed that they got their news from Instagram. This just goes on to show the reliance of Gen Zs on social media and the growing impact of social media on the youth of today.
– users using the fundraising feature to raise awareness
The impact and influence of Gen Z keep increasing and the major cause for this is the accessibility of different social platforms like Instagram that promote and highlight artists, activists and content creators and give Gen Zs a chance to showcase their talents.
