Instagram

Instagram is a social media platform that enables its users to take, edit, and share photos and videos.

A follower on Instagram is someone who has selected the Follow button on your profile. This means that when you post something, it will appear in their feed. They have taken time out of their day to follow you and get updates from you. So as long as you provide the goods, they’ll pay attention. Users can livestream video, and video streams and selected private photos will disappear, Snapchat-style. Parents can learn more about Instagram and see conversation starters around its use in their parents' guide.

Similar to Snapchat, Instagram offers "Stories," where users can post a series of photos or videos strung together; these last only 24 hours. Like TikTok, Instagram also offers "Reels," where users can create 15-second videos with music, filters, and visual effects. 

How do I get followers on Instagram?

Here are some ways to get more followers on Instagram:

• Promote yourself online. Share your Instagram info on other social media sites and your website. Make sure that it’s easy for people to know that you’re on Instagram.
• Tell a story. Instagram is a great place to give your brand a story. Decide what yours should be, and make posts that tell it.
• Follow, like, comment. Interact with people to show that you appreciate them, and they’ll appreciate you back.
• Use hashtags. They’re not only for Twitter. Add a few relevant ones to your posts so your photos are easier to search through.
• Follow your followers. Usually, when you follow someone on Instagram, it is likely they will follow you back.
• Tag your location. Bring in some local followers by letting people know where you’re taking your photos.

Kids can learn some basic concepts about photography and exercise some creativity with Instagram. The service is designed to be an inherently social one, so teens using Instagram will learn some of the ins and outs (and perhaps ups and downs) of social networking. They'll have to make decisions about the kind of network they want to build and exercise judgment when they're communicating with others. Instagram isn't a deep learning experience, but it lets teens express themselves through photos as they build their social networks.

Technically, in their terms of service Instagram state that their app is restricted for use by people aged thirteen and over, though no proof of age is required so this is a restriction that is easily bypassed.

Is Instagram any good?

This social network offers the cool photo effects of Hipstamatic powerfully combined with the social seduction of Facebook, the popularity filter of Reddit, the hashtag and follower sharing models of Twitter, the music-based videos of TikTok, and the curse and blessing of commentary on YouTube -- and that's just within the app. 

Overall, Instagram does a remarkable job of implementing a neat idea with an easy and fast interface, all for free. But the endless features, disappearing messages, and default to public accounts can make it tricky for parents to monitor. 

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