Instagram is a social media platform designed specifically for sharing photos and videos, used by over 1 billion people every month. Since its launch, Instagram has evolved significantly, but its core focus on visual content remains unchanged.
Younger generations prefer this platform, and many are migrating from older platforms like Facebook.
Understanding how Instagram works is crucial, as it plays a significant role in optimizing your business’s online marketing efforts.
What is instagram?
The name Instagram is a combination of the words “instant photos” and “telegram,” and it has become one of the most important platforms for sharing photos and videos. In Hungary, many people simply call it “Insta.”
Features of instagram
- Photo sharing: Users can share photos and customize them with various filters.
- Video sharing: Allows the upload of short videos, up to 60 seconds in length.
- Instagram stories: Temporary content that disappears after 24 hours.
- Instagram live: A live-streaming feature where users can share content in real-time.
- IGTV: A feature for sharing longer videos, up to 1 hour in length.
While the platform is primarily focused on images, video content is becoming increasingly important, especially with the introduction of IGTV. Instagram functions similarly to YouTube or Facebook, where each user has their own profile.
Users can follow each other, and content shared by followed accounts appears in the user’s feed. When you share a post, it shows up on your profile. If your profile is public, anyone can view it, but if it’s private, only your followers can see your posts.
Instagram offers the option to use the platform either as a personal user or for business purposes. The mobile app remains the most popular way to access Instagram, as it was developed primarily for mobile use, offering a richer and more versatile experience than its desktop version.