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Instagram gets a lot of flak and I’ve even written several articles myself about alternatives you should try. But with all said and done, and despite taking a one-year break before returning, Instagram is my favorite social media site. Here’s why.
1Instagram DMs Are More Intuitive Than Other Platforms
While I post nowhere near as much as I used to on my previous Instagram accounts, I would happily keep the app just for its DM feature. I’ve used DMs on several social media platforms, including Snapchat, X, and Facebook. While Messenger is pretty good, I’m not the biggest fan of the others.
DMs on Instagram simply feel more intuitive, and now that it’s much easier toreact to messages on Instagram, I don’t see a real reason why I’d use another social media site for messaging others. There’s also the fact that most of the people I want to keep in contact with have Instagram but aren’t necessarily on other platforms (though your mileage may, of course, vary).
2Instagram Is Great for a Portfolio
As a professional photographer alongside my writing, having a portfolio is essential for getting work. I do have a website with several photos, but it’s also nice to share my images on Instagram. While I don’t have many followers right now (and to be honest, I’m focusing much more on my website), I do think that it will be a powerful lead magnet in years to come.
If you’re a hobbyist who’s thinking of taking your art to the next level and attracting clients, I would strongly suggest setting up an Instagram account. While you should still set up a portfolio site at some point, Instagram is a cost-effective and efficient way to at least get started. Consider checking out these tips onhow to use Instagram as your career portfoliofor more ideas.
3Instagram’s Interface Is Intuitive
Another reason why Instagram is my favorite social media platform is because it’s very easy to navigate. The interface clearly defines where you’ll find each thing you’re looking for, and it’s easy to choose between sharing a normal post, a Reel, or a Story.
Instagram’s interface also uses complementing colors and readable fonts, making navigation simple in both Light and Dark Mode. You can also easily toggle your different settings for notifications and several other aspects.
4You Have Control Over the Content You Consume
While I agree that Instagram has become more irritating when it comes to seeing content from non-followers, it’s not the only social media site that has done this. You also have various controls to determine what content you want to consume.
One example is the option to view only posts from accounts that you follow. I wish that you didn’t have to enable it each time you open the app, but at least it’s there. Similarly, you can easily view just content from close friends if you’d prefer.
You can alsochange your Instagram Explore pageby clearing your search history, marking content as “Not Interested”, and in several other ways.
5It’s the Best Social Media App for Sharing Art With a General Audience
The main reason that I use social media in general is to share my work, and Instagram is a specific outlet for my photography. I have tried several alternatives, but in my opinion, none of them are on the same level as Instagram in terms of features. Instagram also has a broader audience.
I do use Behance and 500px as well, but both of these are for more specific purposes. General audiences don’t really use either of these. I’m all for another app that can compete with Instagram and attract a general audience, but as of yet,I haven’t seen it.
6It’s Easier to Find Inspiration on Instagram
While I admittedly used to say that I was “finding inspiration” on Instagram as an excuse to scroll, I now use the app for this reason without feeling the impulse to scroll. This is one of the ways that I learnedhow to reintegrate social media after a long break. I look for inspiration in several places, such as blogs, Pinterest, and real-life galleries, but Instagram is still one of the best.
I am very specific with the people that I follow for inspiration, but I also find it easier to discover accounts that I previously hadn’t noticed. While I wish that Instagram would show fewer posts from people I don’t follow, one advantage is that you can at least see new artists. I also believe that the same is true for your interests.
7Instagram’s Filters Are a Great Alternative to Photo Editing
While I frequently use Lightroom and Photoshop for my heavy-duty photo editing, Instagram’s filters are great if you just want to publish pictures from your smartphone. You’ll find plenty more filters these days, too, meaning that you may get the exact style that you’re looking for.
you may also change the intensity of your sliders, making Instagram filters a handy alternative to photo editing. If you later decide that you want to try your hand at editing, you can use several apps toget Instagram-style filters on your smartphone.
8You Have More Control Over the Types of Visual Content You Post
Instagram isn’t as good as X or Facebook for written content, but it does excel if you want to share visual posts. you may also now use Threads as a text-based alternative to Facebook anyway, so it isn’t a huge problem.
Since you’re able to share both Reels and photos, I think that Instagram is a better option than TikTok. Similarly, Stories are much better on Instagram than they are on Facebook. While I no longer use Snapchat, I also preferred using Instagram Stories to the Snapchat equivalent.
Another advantage of Instagram is the option to share both carousels and single photos.
While Instagram certainly isn’t perfect, it is—in my opinion—better than every other social media platform. you may post a diverse range of content, and the user interface is very easy to navigate. While I’d change various things about how Instagram shares content with you, I like that you at least have the option to control what content you consume—and as an artist, it’s a good platform for seeking inspiration.
