Instagram. Where has it all gone wrong?

[Gymer_crystal]

I used to love Instagram. Seeing people’s homes and getting inspiration, sharing ideas etc. Now it just turns my stomach with all the “AD” or “KINDLY GIFTED” hashtags. I mean come on we’d all have beautiful homes if no one had to pay for it and a national corporate company came along and said “there you go, have a new top spec kitchen for free... go flog it to the masses and get their hard earned money from them.” Then there’s just the shite that some accounts pedal. From Hampton and astley towels to the lotto, it’s gone from the sublime to the ridiculous

 

[JulieScoobyDoo]

The time has come to cull. People get offered Ads to run on their accounts because of their followings. If we unfollow the persistent offenders and don’t hate follow on stories it sends a message we’re done with it alll

I recently unfollowed everybody I got sick of seeing flogging a load of tat I’d never buy. I love Instagram but I make sure my feed is full of what I want to see and none of this dross

 

[_Salmonskinroll_]

Greed took over and everything relatable about them was lost. I hardly even watch any ‘influencers’ anymore. I know it’s all fake and all about trying to make me spend money I don’t have #ad

 

[Boblebob]

It went downhill when Facebook bought it out.

 

[Mayday]

I feel like it started more as a photography app but then got overrun with influencers.
I also hate the fact they've messed up the timeline so its no longer chronological. What was the point in that?
I tend to just follow people I really like now or people I know.

 

[Gymer_crystal]

Very true. I used to enjoy watching people’s lives and when they’d been in a shop and got a bargain. Now I know that thing - whatever it maybe - has been sent to them for free and then they are being paid to advertise it. It’s all a joke now.

 

[Oliphae]

I really miss the way it used to be, and when people actually used hashtags to discover similar interests, and you’d find a bit of a community rather than armies of supporters for particular influencers.

 

[Yel]

It's been the same for years now, Facebook upped the ad frequency and infuencers are mainly posting insincere ads.

Scrolling feeds is so empty and fruitless. My life is better without it.

Most of the people commenting seem to just do it to try to get attention to themselves.

 

[FrannyGallops]

I feel like it started more as a photography app but then got overrun with influencers.
I also hate the fact they've messed up the timeline so its no longer chronological. What was the point in that?
I tend to just follow people I really like now or people I know.

Exactly this! When it first started, it was just a photo sharing app. I learned loads about photography from some great people and I met some truly lovely people through it. This will sound wanky but it really had a ‘community’ feel about it and was a lovely positive feeling place (unlike say, Facebook). And then, of course, a few years later, FB bought it out and found a way to ‘monetise’ it with the ads. And other brands found a way to stealthily sell us shit through influencers who were only concerned with making themselves money and promoting an unattainable lifestyle.
It makes me laugh when the big influencers bang on about how IG has become ‘such a negative place’ these days. If they want to know why that is, they only have to look at their own feeds to see why that is.

 

[Meringue22]

Exactly this! When it first started, it was just a photo sharing app. I learned loads about photography from some great people and I met some truly lovely people through it. This will sound wanky but it really had a ‘community’ feel about it and was a lovely positive feeling place (unlike say, Facebook). And then, of course, a few years later, FB bought it out and found a way to ‘monetise’ it with the ads. And other brands found a way to stealthily sell us shit through influencers who were only concerned with making themselves money and promoting an unattainable lifestyle.
It makes me laugh when the big influencers bang on about how IG has become ‘such a negative place’ these days. If they want to know why that is, they only have to look at their own feeds to see why that is.

I’ve made friends through Instagram. It did have a lovely community feel at one point but it’s not the same anymore It’s sad seeing people feeling shit about their lives thanks to all the bullshit on Instagram. ‘Being famous on Instagram is like being rich in Monopoly money’

 

[Aitchcee]

The money that takes you from blogging/Vlogging to being an influencer could ruin anyone’s moral code I think.

 

[emmer_moans]

I feel like it started more as a photography app but then got overrun with influencers.
I also hate the fact they've messed up the timeline so its no longer chronological. What was the point in that?
I tend to just follow people I really like now or people I know.

This! I remember downloading it in order to use the photo editing effects.

 

[AmberSpyglass]

There’s little fun and spontaneity. It’s all paid partnership; “ I wouldn’t advertise if I didn’t love it” bollocks , gifted stuff, discounted holidays etc.

Yes , greed took over and I can’t see anything changing any time soon.

 

[Yel]

Makes you think what the next phase of social media will be.

As long as Facebook doesn't own it then it'll be a better world. FB are just the worst out of the big 4 tech companies imo.

Maybe something like Steemit / dtube or minds.com will take off

 

[Oohthedrama]

Not Instagram but I’ve noticed youtube have upped their game. Mid roll ads are now 1 of 2
On most uploads.
Does anyone know how to use Adblock on the youtube iOS app?

 

[LaurieLaurie]

I barely use it anymore and unfollowed anyone that is a sell out.

 

[Jell87]

Nothing’s changed they just have to declare it now. I agree that this has changed the feel of Instagram, and it seems like all you see now is #ad and #gifted, but this isn’t the influencers fault. If someone offered you ££ for posting a few stories would you not do it? I bloody would! I blame the brands for lazy marketing, not the mums just trying to make a few quid during their 15 minutes of insta fame.

 

[emmer_moans]

Makes you think what the next phase of social media will be.

 

[Deleted member]

I used to love Instagram. Seeing people’s homes and getting inspiration, sharing ideas etc. Now it just turns my stomach with all the “AD” or “KINDLY GIFTED” hashtags. I mean come on we’d all have beautiful homes if no one had to pay for it and a national corporate company came along and said “there you go, have a new top spec kitchen for free... go flog it to the masses and get their hard earned money from them.” Then there’s just the shite that some accounts pedal. From Hampton and astley towels to the lotto, it’s gone from the sublime to the ridiculous

I deactivated mine in August 2017. I loved it at first and found it so inspirational. After a while,I started playing the compare game to all these “aspirational” accounts on the explore page and feeling shit about myself.

I briefly reactivated it before Christmas because I was decorating my house and seen a few accounts linked on Pinterest that were the vibe I was going for,within a few weeks I felt my self esteem plummet and got rid. To be fair I’ve suffered with very low self esteem and poor body image since I was a kid (nearly 40 now) and when I was in my teens had to see a psychologist. I used to hoard magazines and compare myself to the gorgeous celebs,he told me to stop buying them and I did. I feel so sorry for kids growing up with Instagram and comparing themselves. How do they avoid social media when all their friends have it. It gives me the sads.

 

[H12345]

Facebook was the same everyone seems to of got bored of that. Instagram is ridiculous I can’t see it lasting I really see everyone moving on soon. We’re due something new and fun.