Class 10, Assigment 3-1: Instagram as a Collaboration Tool

Class 10, Instagram as a Collaboration Tool

Link to Google Doc file:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1d1uTi66aqCBuMS7ff7iXNw8nE8JipCl6XLBUs54i47I/edit?usp=sharing

Instagram -Instagram began October of 2010 and quickly escalated to one million users by December of the same year. Currently they have over 100 million active users. The simplicity of instagram is what really is the main draw to instagram. Users are able to post pictures and video of up to 15 seconds with ease and quickness. Many celebrities and online personalities use Instagram as a venue to communicate with fans worldwide. Celebrities can use this wide reach with Instagram as a tool for starting movements and bringing light to important issues. The hashtag was a popular way of highlighting thoughts and opinions on many different subjects, but also as a way to categorize their posts with their hashtags. This divides up Instagram into the hundreds of thousands of communities that inhabit the internet, allowing the communities to express their passions with others with like-minded interests.

The aspect of collaboration can be found in the comment sections of the instagram photos. Tags are used to introduce or call “friends” in instagram to directly mention and thus share the photo. Since instagram is focused on sharing private photos to public, there is not much the users can do to collaborate, other than sending direct messages, commenting on photos, liking photos, and mentioning someone in the comment section.

Often, although not actually promoted, Instagram comments and photos are used excessively for advertising purposes, and these endeavors sometimes have a collaborative element as well.

As a chef, we use instagram all the time. The ability to quickly post a picture of what we are producing is a massive draw.  Chef collaborations occur all the time now just through instagram. I personally have made some great friends just through the app. Seeing what people are doing with their cuisine throughout the world helps inspire just as a cookbook does. On the opposite side though, I cannot stand watching people take photos at the table of their food. I’m not trying to see my blood sweat and tears go cold as you find the perfect sepia tone or filter. Companies use Instagram to promote a new product. Many times as I scroll through my feed I will see a company or even a well-known instagrammer showcasing a product.