Instagram(IG) influences people at large scale in different factors like social interactions, mental health, consumer behavior and sociocultural trends.
Influence on People
Social Networks: Instagram is serving as one of the medium to make friends, family and style icon closer. Characteristics: Encourages common interests to manage group-building.
Self-expression: Creativity is a tool for personal empowerment where users can use it to capture photos, make videos and tell stories in order to craft an identity they are making online.
Trends and News: IG is responsible for many of the trends in fashion, beauty, fitness & more. This also allows for live news and events.
Mainstream consumer behavior: Brands use IG to market, while also being the decision-maker and influencer in terms of what people buy anymore through ads or partnerships with influencers.
Mental health: There are huge networks of support on IG but obviously for many, the visual focus can negatively effect self-esteem and body image.
Merits
Connectivity- Better Global connections with large number of people.
Culture: An area for artist creativity and content contribution.
Keep Updated: Provides details on news, insights and events of interest.
Business Growth: helpful in expanding business as a growing point and customer satisfaction.
Community Building: It creates a forum for communities of interests.
Live Video: Goes live from time to time, in a routine manner sharing all educative content and raising awareness on different topics.
Demerits
Mental Health – leads to comparison, envy and addiction, resulting in low self-esteem effects productivity.
Privacy Risks: the possible misuse of personal information and data security breaches.
Cyberbullying for where, user may harassment and negative feedback.
Benefits unrealistic beauty and lifestyle standards, harboring low self-image.
When commercial content overtakes the service, such communications cease to be a real exchange of information.
Misinformation: False information on the lack of regulation over contents.