- Advantage
- 1- Massive
- 2- "A picture is worth a thousand words"
- 3- Ideal for virtual stores
- 4- Privacy and security
- 5- Free
- 6- Sharing options
- 7- Communication medium
- 8- Promote artistic skills
- Disadvantages
- 1- Designed to be portable
- 2- It is not compatible with all operating systems
- 3- Limited tools for image editing
- 4- Possibility of image theft
- 5- The privacy of the images is collective, not individual
- 6- Addictive
- 7- False advertising
- 8- It depends on the images
- References
There are many advantages and disadvantages of Instagram. Among the former are its massive character and the promotion of artistic skills. Its main disadvantages are its limited editing tools and the loss of copyright.
Due to its multiple benefits, this social network has expanded in recent years and currently has more than 200 million active users per month. This figure shows that Instagram has 15 times more users than Facebook and 20 times more than Twitter.
This network is ideal for people who enjoy taking photos, recording short videos, and sharing them with other users. Furthermore, this application can be associated with Facebook and Twitter: a photo uploaded on Instagram can be shared automatically on these other social networks.
Instagram is based on a photo and video sharing system. It is similar to Facebook and Twitter, since it takes elements of both. From Facebook it takes the idea of sharing images, while from Twitter it takes the notion of followers.
The main disadvantage of this application is that it is only available for Android, iOS and Windows Mobile operating systems.
This means that users who do not have these operating systems must access the web version, which is not as interactive as the application.
Advantage
1- Massive
Instagram is a social network that has grown extensively in recent years. Among Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, the latter is the one with the highest number of active users per month.
2- "A picture is worth a thousand words"
The main feature of Instagram is that it allows you to share photos. Sometimes images are capable of transmitting more information than written text.
Images have the ability to evoke emotions and feelings. They are also more attractive than other forms of interaction. In this way, a much more effective communication system is established between users.
3- Ideal for virtual stores
Today Instagram has become a marketing tool. Many virtual stores use this platform to promote their products.
Thanks to this platform, the relationship between sellers and buyers is more interactive.
4- Privacy and security
One of the most important advantages of Instagram is its privacy and security policy.
Its use is limited to those over 13 years of age, in order to protect children from certain content that may not be suitable for them.
In addition to this, you can set the publications to be private. When choosing this option, the other users who want to see the photos, videos or any other element of the profile must send a follow-up request to the user with the private account. This user has the power to accept or reject said request.
Finally, if a user is violating the conditions of Instagram or if it threatens the security of other members of the network, it can be blocked and will not be able to see the publications of those who have blocked it.
5- Free
Like other social networks, the Instagram service is free. Neither the subscription nor the download of the application generate additional costs to those derived from the payment of the Internet service.
6- Sharing options
Instagram allows sharing photos and videos that can be created directly from the application, or that can be loaded from the memory of the mobile device.
The application also offers the option to share these files on other social networks, such as Twitter and Facebook.
7- Communication medium
Being a social network, Instagram constitutes a means of communication. In addition to publishing multimedia files, this application offers instant messaging services.
8- Promote artistic skills
The social network Instagram encourages the artistic abilities of people. Thanks to this application, many users are more aware of the fundamental elements of photography: angles, planes, focus, among others.
Disadvantages
1- Designed to be portable
The Instagram application was created as a portable system. That is, its design is better suited to mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets.
There is a web version of this social network that can be used on desktop computers, but it does not offer as many services as the mobile application.
2- It is not compatible with all operating systems
The Instagram application is available only for the iOS, Android and Windows Mobile operating systems.
This excludes people who have devices with BlackBerry, OS and Linux systems, among others.
3- Limited tools for image editing
For a network that relies on publishing images, it has limited tools for editing these files.
There are only a couple of dozen effects (filters) available and additional options need to be downloaded separately.
4- Possibility of image theft
By posting quality or professional images on a social network, it is possible for someone to access them and use them for professional topics from which they benefit financially.
Therefore, there is the possibility that a user's images will be 'stolen' without their consent.
5- The privacy of the images is collective, not individual
You cannot set the privacy of each photo individually. This means that there are only two options: all posts are public or all posts are private.
6- Addictive
The social network Instagram can become an addiction for its users. For this reason, it must be used with caution.
7- False advertising
Many stores depend on Instagram to promote their products and services. Sometimes these accounts use false advertising to attract customers. This can generate mistrust on the part of users.
8- It depends on the images
The popularity of an account is largely based on the quality of the images posted. If the photos are not attractive enough, then the account will not have that many followers.
In the case of virtual stores, if the photos of the products fail to convey the benefits of these, then the store will not generate sales.
References
- 18 Pros and Cons of Instagram for Business. Retrieved on October 11, 2017, from brandongaille.com
- Advantages and Disadvantages: My Multimedia Instagram. Retrieved on October 11, 2017, from weebly.com
- Instagram for Business: Pros and Cons of Instagram. Retrieved on October 11, 2017, from cypressnorth.com
- The Advantages and Disadvantages of Instagram. Retrieved on October 11, 2017, from mikemarko.com
- Top Pros and Cons of Using the Photo Sharing App Instagram. Retrieved on October 11, 2017, from resources.uknowkids.com
- What are its advantages and disadvantages? Instagram. Retrieved on October 11, 2017, from lauravinolas.wordpress.com
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of using Instagram. Retrieved on October 11, 2017, from online-sciences.com