Since its launch in 2010, Instagram’s popularity has been growing by leaps and bounds. Today, Instagram is one of the most commonly used social media platforms in the world, with a reported 500 million daily active users! And while other social media platforms have peaked and are trying to reinvent themselves, the social media experts at Web Design Relief have noted that Instagram is still a force to be reckoned with.

As you glance through the latest posts and most popular hashtags on Instagram, you may think you know everything there is to know about this social media juggernaut. But do you?

5 Things You Probably Don’t Know About Instagram

Instagram is owned by Facebook.

In 2012, Facebook acquired Instagram for a cool $1 billion. And it seems like it was a smart investment! Even with big competitors like Snapchat, Tumblr, and Twitter, Instagram  remains the most popular platform among 18-50 year olds.

Your Instagram feed is skewed toward what you like.

When Instagram first arrived on the scene, its feed was totally chronological. Now, similar to your Facebook feed, what you see first is determined by an algorithm. So at the top of your feed you’ll see the people and pages whose posts you like the most. The same is true for what you’ll see in the Explore section. So if you frequently like posts from authors or book bloggers, you’ll begin to see similar posts showing up in the Explore tab showing new content from other Instagram accounts you might find interesting.

You can Instagram Live with a friend.

Live video is at the forefront of social media right now! Going live in real time to your audience may be daunting for some writers, so you might want to consider trying Instagram Live with a friend beside you to discuss your work and facilitate a conversation that your viewers/readers will find enjoyable and enlightening.

Privacy and security are top priorities.

Since the great Facebook debacle of 2018, many social media networks are retooling their security measures. Instagram, being a Facebook company, is putting improved security measures in place to protect you and maintain your privacy. These upgraded safety features include two-factor authentication and the ability to disarm third party apps from utilizing your info account.

Hashtags are your best friend.

While almost everyone is using hashtags on Twitter, people still seem confused about how to use effective and appropriate hashtags on Instagram. But unlike Twitter, where you want to limit yourself to one or two hashtags per tweet—on Instagram, the more the merrier! A good rule of thumb is an average of seven hashtags per Instagram post. Using hashtags on Instagram puts your content in front of viewers who aren’t already your followers and expands your reach. Hashtags also help Instagram’s algorithm determine the focus of your posted photo or video, so your content can appear in the Explore tab of other Instagram users searching for accounts just like yours! It’s an effortless way to get your posts in front of more potential new readers and fans.

QUESTION: Which of these Instagram features was news to you?