It was just a couple weeks ago that I wrote about the increasingly popular mobile-app, Instagram. And although, I know Instagram is not new, it has undergone a few huge changes over the last few months. The first one is one I’ve mentioned in my previous post, that Facebook has acquired Instagram. The next breakthrough is that Instagram can now be accessed on the Internet. People can now view a user’s Instagram account when browsing the Web…I’d like to call it ‘Instagweb’.
This is a huge breakthrough for Instagram because accounts and photos used to only be able to be viewed on smartphones. This created some limitations due to the fact that one can only browse so fast through photos on smartphones. I mean, think about it, the screen is only so big and loading time depends on the data plan or the available Wi-fi. After reading an article about this through my LinkedIn Account, I decided to try it out for myself and check my own account online, but it didn’t work at first. It must have been a glitch or something, because brands that have Instagram worked for me, like instagram.com/nike. However, my account can now be viewed online and it is pretty amazing! No, I don’t mean my account is amazing, I mean the ability to view mine online – on a bigger screen – is amazing!
My Instagweb Account.
I still see some downfalls and restrictions with this though. Even though you can view Instragram accounts online, a user doesn’t have the ability to browse through their followers shared Instagram photos online, unless they were to view their actual account online by typing in instagram.com/theirusername. This probably comes as an inconvenience to Instagram users because even though users want to make sure their profile looks visually appealing, the other main main purpose of Instagram is to view their Followers’ shared photos on Instagram.
A lovely infographic I found describes the top three reasons people use Instagram includes: record of memories, viewpoints exchange, and to relax. And the top three reasons people share on Instagram includes: enjoying something jointly with others, self-improvement through judgement, and common interests.
The main idea I am trying to get across with that infographic is that, yes, it is great the Instagram can now be viewed online, and it is great for brands. For example, if I wanted to just quickly browse Nike’s Instragram account, I would just type in their Instagram account. However, users also want to just be able to view their followers’ photos. Currently, this can only be done on smartphones or through Instagram web viewers including: Statigram, Followgram, or Webstagram. It is here, where I can easily view all of my followers’ photos conveniently online – on a bigger screen. From a brand perspective, these online platforms will still come to an advantage because it allows the brands to analyze photos likes, and comments of their own photos, as well as their Followers’ photos – which may be their competition.
Will the Instagram Web Profiles come out with this feature? I’m sure of it. The only question we will have to ask is when.
