In an age where social media has become an increasingly prominent part of life, one platform seems to have risen to the top, creating an obsession among Generation Z users: Instagram.

How GenZ Uses Instagram

Instagram is a program that allows its users to share original media content such as photographs and videos to a large group of other users instantaneously.  As a result, there has become a fixation on getting as many “likes” on your posts as possible.

Within Generation Z, the amount of “likes” one receives on their photos and videos has become a symbol of popularity.  The more likes on a post, the greater the social status of the user.

Infatuated by likes

With the infatuation on gaining the most amount of “likes” comes the creation of strategies on how one should do so.  Generation Z, above all others, has perfected their use of Instagram and focuses every post to be optimized in order to receive likes.  Most users, rather than show the monotony of everyday life, only post content from the most exciting things that they do and places that they go in order to create an illusion that their life is far more thrilling than it truly is.

Insta-Trip

For instance, if you were to scroll through the Instagram page of the average Generation Z user, I am willing to bet you will find that most of their photos will be from trips that the user has taken or special events that the user has attended such as weddings or birthdays.  Personally, this past summer I travelled to Tanzania with my family, and my Instagram features four posts just from this trip. Alongside this, I include photos of when I have been scuba diving, skydiving, skiing, etc...all with the goal of making my Instagram portray my best life.  Most members of Generation Z format their Instagrams with the same goal in mind as me.

Source of entertainment

Along with using Instagram to increase their social status, Generation Z also uses the platform as a means of entertainment and killing time.  There are many Instagram accounts in which the sole purpose is producing and posting media that is amusing for other users. This media often times are photos that have some sort of joke or caption written about them or amusing videos of people doing things.  Whenever I am bored, I often find myself going through accounts that post this kind of media in order to entertain myself and kill some time. Since smartphones are so readily accessible, Instagram provides a source of entertainment whenever and wherever you are.  

Generation Z

As of now these are the two greatest ways in which Instagram is used by Generation Z, however, with technological advancements and shifts in trends, Instagram is constantly releasing new features and continues to grow and expand.  There is no telling how the use of the platform may change moving forward, however, as of now the primary uses of the application are to increase one’s social status and to be able to constantly entertain oneself.

Written by Nick Giordano

 

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12 comments

  • Kaelyn Green
    Kaelyn Green
    28/09/18

    Instagram has also been used as a news outlet by GenZ, who is less likely to watch CNN or FOX news on their television. It's much easier for them to get news updates through social media outlets because it's convenient.

  • Annika
    27/09/18

    Great points, Nick. I totally relate with all of this as my instagram is also filled with pictures of me living my best life. I think its valuable to also add that sometimes people create moments just for instagram or social media. It's important for us to remember that someone who seems to be having the time of their life all the time might just be putting up a facade. There have been multiple times I have tried to delete instagram and I've always found myself in a healthier headspace. For some reason...I always end up re-downloading it. I wonder why that is.

  • Brice Bradshaw
    27/09/18

    Great article! Really interesting how Instagram has modeled GenZ to a T.

  • Sydni
    Sydni
    27/09/18

    Great article! I love learning about how generation Z uses social media today.

  • Hannah
    Hannah
    27/09/18

    I love scrolling through my Instagram for entertainment. It's a great way to kill time. I'm part of the millennial generation, but there are a lot of similarities between us and Gen Z when it comes to social media.

  • Brandon Reviere
    Brandon Reviere
    27/09/18

    Very insightful blog GenZ will shape the future of the instagram platform and all other social media based on their interactions

  • Amber Perry
    Amber Perry
    27/09/18

    I'm so guilty of posting the most exciting things I do and places I go -That's that what I believe Instagram is for, but I understand that not all people feel that way.

  • Kris
    Kris
    26/09/18

    Awesome blog, really informative

  • Ashlee
    Ashlee
    26/09/18

    Perhaps the perfect posts paired with the sillier stories will help people to strike a balance. Instagram personas can be viewed negatively as people are only putting forward their absolutely best face forward - only posting the exciting and staged. The stories can give us a better insight into the reality, even if only a glimpse. This isn't to say that 'perfect' posts are bad. It gives us something to aspire towards. As long as we don't dwell on what we don't have too much, hopefully, Instagram can continue to evolve and be loved by not only Gen Z but all generations. I can't wait to see what comes next!

    Brilliantly written Nick! I can see why Mellissah Smith is so impressed with you and Annika! I look forward to reading more from and working with you both. :D

  • Maddy
    Maddy
    26/09/18

    This is so true. Appreciate your insight into this Nick!

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