Instagram, Where My Photos Go To Die

I believe Instagram is the place where my photos go to die. Despite my effort to capture and edit photographs taken on film, they get swallowed up by the platform’s famous algorithm. I’ll spend time creating an image that I think is unique, only to post and watch it vanish into a sea of content within minutes. The algorithm prioritizes engagement over creativity, so unless my photo racks up likes and comments fast, it’s buried beneath an avalanche of sponsored posts, Reels, and perfectly curated influencer grids. It’s discouraging to see something I created reduced to a fleeting thumbnail, not seen by most of the people I wanted to share it with.

Instagram, through its algorithm, has created a culture that consists of polished images that are perfect, or videos that are funny. For photographers, there’s pressure to fit a certain aesthetic or trend with flawless lighting, filters, witty captions, and Reels set to the latest music fad. I believe what starts as a genuine artistic expression for many photographers gets flattened into a square box, judged more for its double-tap potential than its meaning. Over the last few years, it seems like I’m posting for an audience that’s too busy scrolling to even see my image, or they simply don’t see the image in the first place because of the algorithm. My photos don’t thrive there; they just fade into the noise, leaving me wondering why I bothered sharing them at all.

The flaws with Instagram as a social media platform are real. I don’t see what other people claim as a community of film photographers because the platform is designed to prioritize advertising, influencers, and Reels above everything else. The algorithm’s a mess that nobody understands. Even though not perfect, it’s where my friends, some family, and strangers who share my interests in film photography hang out. It’s also a photo book of my life. Flawed or not, I like looking back at what I’ve captured. Despite Instagram’s defects, I’ll keep posting because it’s still one of the better ways to connect with other people who enjoy film photography. — ShaunNelson.