As of April this year, Instagram has acquired over 700 million users, and considering its blatant and ongoing ripping-off of Snapchat, growth doesn’t appear to be slowing down any time soon.
But just as you can’t attempt to drink the ocean without ingesting a bunch of soggy garbage, a recent study conducted by anti-bullying charity Ditch The Label demonstrates how this is increasingly the case for Insta.
In a survey of more than 10,000 people in the UK between the ages of 12 to 20, 42 percent said they’ve been the target of online bullying on Instagram, as opposed to 37 percent on Facebook and 31 percent on Snapchat.
Twitter wasn’t included, although the organization has conducted separate research into the rabid hate speech taking place in that hell mouth.This marks something of a sea change from a 2014 study by Cox Communications, which found that 39 percent of teens had witnessed cyber bullying on Facebook, whereas only 22 percent had encountered it on Instagram.
Add to that the recent findings that Instagram is the worst app for your mental health (due to it being a veritable breeding ground for unrealistic body and lifestyle expectations,) and it’s no wonder a seemingly casual scroll through the ‘gram can feel extra exhausting these days.
All of which is to say: Instagram is ascendant, and for all the joy it can bring (is that the right word?), be wary of the accompanying rot. It’s not always easy to take care of oneself out there on the wild web, so here’s some immortal inspo to keep in your back pocket on the days the trolls are trying to drag you into the swamp:
Update 23 July 9:14 p.m. PST: Separate Twitter research cited.
Want more tips for mastering social media? If you’re looking to grow your brand—or your personal brand—we’ve got IRL workshops on beating the algorithm and creating better content in the Social Circle at the Girlboss Rally. Register now at girlbossrally.com.
