Web/Mobile App Critique: New App Called Instagram

Instagram is an application where users can upload photos or 60 second videos to be viewed by their friends. The content posted can either be liked by users or they can comment on it and those comments are viewed by whomever is on the users friends list. The first screen shot above shows what the instagram icon looks like on my iPhone. 

The second screenshot shows what my homepage looks like on instagram once I log in. 

The third screenshot shows my timeline where you can view all of your friends posts,  access the “Live tv” section (an arrow is pointed to it). Live tv is where users can post longer videos like as on youtube and facebook. Right next to that is your DM’s (direct messages). Direct messages are where users can have private conversations. Below that is access to your “story”. Your story is where you can post photos or 10 second videos that only stay posted for 24 hours, like snapchat.

The fourth screen shot shows what your DM’s look like. 

The last screenshot shows what the search pages looks like. The search page is where you can search for other users or hashtags that you might be interested. The search page also shows you content that you might be interested in and that is determined by the content that you like or comment on regularly.

I would suggest that instagram revert back to when content was displayed on your timeline in chronological order. Right now, it uses an algorithm and shows you the most popular content first or content that it feels you want to see. I often miss posts from my family and friends because of this algorithm. I would also suggest that instagram uses some sort of verification process for profiles that sell content can’t commit fraud by not ever sending out their products or the products not being as advertised. I also think that instagram should crack down on people buying followers. The site is becoming less fun and more like a popularity contest. A lot of users are now using instagram to portray a lifestyle that actually is far from accurate, giving people the impression that intangible things are more accessible than they really are. For example, people who don’t have jobs post from exotic locations drinking Starbucks on their way to the beach. When in reality, they might have spent their entire life savings to get to that location. I also don't like the Live Tv part of the application. I feel like they are trying too hard to duplicate youtube. If I want to see long videos, I will go to youtube for that. Instagram is for quick interactions 

I would suggest that instagram revert back to when content was displayed on your timeline in chronological order. Right now, it uses an algorithm and shows you the most popular content first or content that it feels you want to see. I often miss posts from my family and friends because of this algorithm. I would also suggest that instagram uses some sort of verification process for profiles that sell content can’t commit fraud by not ever sending out their products or the products not being as advertised. I also think that instagram should crack down on people buying followers. The site is becoming less fun and more like a popularity contest. A lot of users are now using instagram to portray a lifestyle that actually is far from accurate, giving people the impression that intangible things are more accessible than they really are. For example, people who don’t have jobs post from exotic locations drinking Starbucks on their way to the beach. When in reality, they might have spent their entire life savings to get to that location. I also don't like the Live Tv part of the application. I feel like they are trying too hard to duplicate youtube. If I want to see long videos, I will go to youtube for that. Instagram is for quick interactions. Ann Da