Author: Alanna Fichtel

 

I will be the first to admit that Instagram is my favorite social media app. Scrolling through my feed brings me endless joy and entertainment. Beyond the pictures on my own feed, I am a huge fan of the explore page. Still, despite the many benefits of Instagram, the app can become particularly annoying – thanks to *that* person.

 

There are some unwritten rules of Instagram that most young people know to follow (give our parents a break – they’re still learning). So when they’re broken, it’s very noticeable. For example, multiple posts from the same event. These pictures are usually posted within a short period of time, and scrolling through a bunch of similar pictures can get boring. I get that sometimes you just can’t choose your favorite picture – but it’s a decision we all have to make (and we’ll see the rest of the pictures on Facebook later anyway).

 

Side bar: this is separate from posting two Instagrams in one day of different events that are equally cool. I’m not opposed to it, and your followers probably aren’t either. Those “two insta one day?” comments are just pointing out how it was a bold move, but acceptable.

 

 

Let’s talk about celebrities. They can go from cool to annoying very quickly on Instagram. While I understand that I have actively chosen to follow them, sometimes their posts make me question my support. Yes, any picture Justin Bieber posts will definitely get hundreds of thousands of likes – but that doesn’t mean he needs to post it. When following celebrities, there’s a constant struggle between not wanting to miss out on the good posts and having the boring (or, frankly, weird) ones clog your feed.

 

The explore page can also get excessive and repetitive at times. Enter: National _____ Day, which apparently takes place every day and usually involves food. Is a day dedicated to moldy cheese and seafood bisque really necessary? And for some of us, National Chocolate Day is every day so that’s just #awkward. What I really want to know is who comes up with these days, and if they actually have any real life significance.

 

 

Taking and posting Insta-worthy photos is definitely an acquired skill, and when you can casually scroll through a feed of artsy and cool pictures, the app is worth your time. While the grievances I have with certain posts aren’t enough to make me stop using the app, some people have just taken it too far. Really, the less effort that’s put into Instagram, the more enjoyable it is to use. So to do more with Instagram, do less.