How to survive Instagram

How to survive Instagram

Instragram is a fun new application that uses photos to connect people around the world.

Breaking down the word "insta" instant and "gram" being a means of communicating the application is capable of instantly sharing photos to anyone with access. The aspect of telling a personal story through photography is a hit in today's social media. These few survival tips will help you become an active user!

Add/Change Profile Picture- The last tab to the right, at the bottom of the application is profile is location. Your profile is your personalized instagram page. It displays all of your posted photos, a bio of your creating, and a profile picture. The profile picture will be a physical representation of you when you comment or like a users photo.

1)    Click Profile Tab

2)    Click the box where picture is displayed

3)    Chose weather you want you to take a new photo, or use an existing photo.

4)    Save profile

Privacy Settings- Instagram gives you two options of how you want your profile protected. The first option is a public profile, no protection. Public access allows for any user to view your photos. The second option is private profile. In this option users must be approved to view your profile, having access to your photos.

1) Click profile tab

Follow/Unfollow - Similar to twitter, your followers are who you personally want to interact with. The more followers you have the more variety you will have on your timeline. Followers also provide comments, and likes under your posted photos.

1)    Once you find the user you wish you follow click “follow”

2)    The method is used to unfollow

Notifications - The notification box is the second to last tab found at the bottom of the screen (left of profile tab). The notification tab is set up in two folders. One you will find the photos your followers liked, the second will be the users who have liked your photos. The notification tab will also notify you for photo comments and your photo’s added to the popular page.

1)    Click the notification tab

2)    View activity

Liking photos- Once you have followers your timeline will fill with each user posted pictures, current being displayed first. Once a photo is liked, the user will be notified user their notification tab. This can be done by double tapping the photo or physically hitting the like button under the posted photo.

1)    Double tapping photograph

2)    Clicking the like button

Commenting- Interaction is big; comments can be displayed under any photo posted to Instagram. (Unless the user is private. Then you must be approved) Placing an "@" symbol before a username will send that user a notification, letting them know a comment was directed towards them. (This does not need to be done for a general comment, only for conversation)

1)    Click the comment button displayed under the photo

2)    Type desired message

3)    Type username with the @ symbol at the start.

4)    Spacebar. Begin typing message

Uploading photos- To be added to other users timelines you must upload pictures. The tab to upload photos is found directly in the center of the screen.  Pictures can either be taken from the application or chosen from your library on your mobile device. Once you chose the photo, filters can be added to enhance and give the photo a more "professional" look. Once the photo is to your liking, descriptions, emoji faces, hashtags, and usernames can be added to the edit box to give more detail about the picture posted.

Popular page- To the right of the timeline tab (the second tab at the bottom of your screen) is the popular page. The popular page is full of photos that have been liked by thousands of people around the world. Photos are rotated regularly, and the official site states that they have a specific formula to choose which photos are selected. Although I have yet to personally know someone who has been on this page. Hahah.

In 2010 Kevin Systrom founded a new social network using pictures and called it Instagram. A year later this social application has over 80 million users and is essential for top companies to brand their products.