Exploring the influence of Instagram on the self: A qualitative study on first year female university students, using in-depth interviews

Abstract

Instagram, which is based primarily on sharing pictures and videos with the feature of being able to comment and ‘like’, can impact how the individual ‘self’ is understood and perceived. Being ‘relevant’ is a demanding trend that many female students feel necessary to achieve. This research aimed to determine the positive and negative effects that Instagram has on female students’ ‘self’, to determine what motivates these young women to use the app, and to explore whether these students are consciously aware of the effects that it has on their psychological well-being. In-depth interviews were conducted with five participants. Responses were analysed using thematic analysis and five major themes emerged. It was found that young women are consciously aware of both the negative and positive features of Instagram. The overall perception of Instagram was more positive than negative. Participants identified the problem areas in regard to the general use of Instagram, however noted that this did not directly affect their presentation of their selves on Instagram. The general consensus amongst participants was that Instagram boosts their self-esteem through positive feedback on their posts from close friends and family. Findings indicate that Instagram positively influences the development and maintenance of the ‘self’.