Instagram Data Visualization
After going through all of my recent and old Instagram photos, I have come to the conclusion that I enjoy posting pictures of two things in particular the most: food and travel. Don’t worry, I’m not that girl who posts a picture of every meal I eat, but if it looks really good and needs to be photographed, chances are I’m going to take the opportunity. When it comes to travel, the only thing almost as good as taking an exotic vacation, is the pictures. Over the summer I went to the Bahamas and probably annoyed most of my Instagram followers with how many pictures I posted. All of my pictures are posted from my phone, and I usually add a location which I am guessing is contributing to big data in some way.
As far as how my pictures might affect how I am targeted by direct advertising, I think this can be seen in many different ways. Advertising companies might focus on ads relating to resorts or tropical cruises. I often receive emails, specifically from Groupon, about travel deals. I could also be targeted for bathing suit ads. When it comes to food, there are hundreds of ads related to that topic. I have had a number of Instagram accounts for food follow me, such as @raleighfoodpics. This account posts food pictures from various Raleigh restaurants that are sent into them. The restaurants then gain publicity as well as credibility from having pictures of their food posted on this account that many people follow. On the Instagram “Explore” page, I often see pictures that are related to my interests as well. These are usually advertising as well.
Tasty 8’s in downtown Raleigh and Innisfree Irish Pub in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
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I think in terms of girls on Instagram, it is pretty funny that you called yourself out for posting pictures of food and travel. I feel like we, as girls, especially can’t post a dang picture of a nice/cool meal without it being viewed as #basic in some way. (Don’t worry, I’m using that hashtag sarcastically!) The way I see it is that if you want to take a picture of something that you enjoy, then by all means go for it. It’s your account, your life! …….Though, as we keep discussing our online presences, clearly it isn’t just our life on the internet.
Have you ever used a certain hashtag on a picture of food or somewhere you’ve traveled and had a completely random user proceed to follow you or like/comment on your picture? Has some advertisement account or company or restaurant ever targeted you in such a super specific way that it has actually left comments on your pics? It is crazy to think of the bigness of the world–even crazier how I could take a picture of a burger, post it with some idiotic hashtags (#bitchifyouwannaburger #eataburger) and probably gain a handful of followers that have posted similar pics with identical hashtags.
~Nothing is sacred.~
While both food and travel would seem to make for very easy marks for targeted advertising, after reading your post I am now thinking about another aspect of social media. The main purpose of them is to share information with people you know (in this case the site being Instagram). So the idea that your, or anyone’s, followers can be annoyed by the amount/content of the pictures you took is kinda strange when you think about it, since they’re supposedly following you because they enjoy the kind of content you post.
Unless your phone notifies you whenever someone makes an Instagram post, then I could see how that’d be aggravating.
All of your pictures are beautifully framed and taken, and are beautiful to look at. This might explain why professional Instagram accounts have begun to follow you, but it also brings up another, less obvious advertising opportunity for companies – photography products and suggestions. For example, Nikon might see that since your photos are well composed and beautiful, you might be more likely to purchase professional camera equipment. Therefore, they might target users like you with their advertising. It brings up the idea that not only is the content of the pictures we post important, but HOW and WHY they are posted that might be used by companies and advertising agencies.
All the food you photographed looks delicious, so I can see why different accounts want to follow you for the pictures. Does it bother you that companies and other users besides whom you deem as your “friends” want to check out all your photos? It’s cool restaurants and food Instagrams want to follow you, but maybe they’re also trying to incorporate you into possible marketing opportunities. Say you get noticed by a food blog and then asked to go eat at certain places and then post pictures and a review. If I could do that and get paid for it, I definitely would.
I like and the explorer page because I often find myself spending hours looking at photos I may or may not have directly searched. The explore tab page seems to cater to your previous preferences your likes what your followers or people you’re following my like. It’s strange to just think how nearly every profile is cater to a different set of interests or hobbies. For you it’s food and travel and for me it’s art and humor. I wonder how everyone’s explorer page would differ if we all looked at them together.
I can definitely appreciate that you post food pics! Something to think about is how targeted advertising gets. Food is a a broad over-arching category that has many sub-categories. Based on the pictures you posted in this post it appears that you enjoy locally owned American food joints. A few things to think about are: What kind of picture would persuade you to try a locally owned restaurant? Do pictures posted on @raleighfoodpics give you ideas of where to go? Do you think advertisers exploit local Instagram accounts/ bloggers like @raleighfood pics to advertise for their company?
Thanks for your contribution! Great Job!