Kevin Systrom, one of Instagram’s co-founders, recently expressed his dissatisfaction with the social network’s recent direction. Systrom claimed in an interview with American technology reporter Kara Swisher that Instagram has lost its “soul” and is no longer the platform he helped create
Systrom co-founded Instagram with Mike Krieger in 2010, as well as Burbn, a location-sharing service. In the interview, he stated that he used to log into Instagram to see what his friends and family were up to, but now all he sees are creators and brands selling products and services and making money.
Instagram has lost its soul
The problem with Instagram’s business model, according to Systrom, is its emphasis on targeting ads. While this strategy may be profitable for Meta, Instagram’s parent company, it has left many regular Instagram users feeling left out. The platform has shifted in favor of professional creators and businesses, leaving little room for the average user.
The monetization process on Instagram has also led to unintended consequences. Influencers on the platform are living extravagant lives, promoting a lifestyle that many people aspire to but cannot achieve. Systrom notes that Instagram has become a race to the bottom. With users competing to be the most perfect and flawless.
Systrom praised the BeReal platform for trying to rescue some of what Instagram was in the past. BeReal encourages users to post random, unfiltered moments of their day without any preparation, makeup, or pre-production. This platform is a response to the increasing pressure on Instagram users to present a perfect, curated image of their lives.
Instagram was sold to Facebook in 2012 for $1 billion. Systrom and Krieger remained at the helm for a while longer but eventually left the company in 2018. Due to disagreements with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
Conclusion
Finally, Systrom’s criticism of Instagram underscores the growing concern about the impact of social media on our lives. The emphasis on monetization has resulted in a platform that is increasingly tailored to influencers and brands making regular users feel left out. Because of the rise of influencers, there are now unrealistic expectations about what it means to be successful or happy.
In response to these concerns, the BeReal platform was created. However, whether it can truly offer an alternative to Instagram’s curated image of perfection remains to be seen. Moving forward, it is critical to continue to question the role of social media in our lives and how we can use these platforms in a healthy and authentic manner.
