Instagram was once regarded as the most popular social media platform in the world, but that may not remain true for much longer.
Other apps and websites, such as TikTok, OnlyFans, and their imitations, have begun to increase in number and popularity, challenging Instagram’s top position perhaps for the first time since its inception.
Straight to the point!
Instagram is definitely not dying or going anywhere. Google trends are indicating that there’s no decline, what’s more, there’s a slight growth. On top of that, stats from Similar Web are showing that around 56% of users are aged 18-34 meaning that young people are still interested in the app, and will be for the next few years, unless something unpredictable happens.
All of this has led some people to wonder, “Is Instagram dying?” Are other platforms becoming more appealing to users? But is that truly the case? Let’s find out.
Table of Contents
Is Instagram Dying
By examining Google trends and data from Similarweb, it’s clear that Instagram is NOT dying. In fact, we may be witnessing a steady increase in the platform’s popularity. Its audience is predominantly young, which is a crucial factor when assessing whether a social network is declining.
Its trend is stable, as shown in the image above, which is certain. Therefore, in terms of popularity, it is not declining.
Instagram Users Demographics
The first aspect we must understand when analyzing Instagram’s future is its capacity to attract new users.
Social media platforms are extremely popular among young people for self-expression, whether through casual posting or by trying to build a career as an internet personality.
While Instagram was once the preferred platform for older generations, similar to Facebook and Myspace before it, today it faces competition from numerous other platforms that specialize in short, attention-grabbing content.
In contrast to the Instagram app, which primarily focuses on photo sharing, these new competitors are far more aligned with Gen Z’s aspiration to build a career in content creation.
Therefore, to “stay cool” and attract more young users, Instagram is compelled to change, evolving from a convenient platform for photo dumps to a means of promoting your company or brand to a wider audience.
It is undoubtedly the most popular among young people. Individuals aged 25-34 make up 32.15% of the platform, but that’s not all: those aged 18-24 are also highly engaged, with a similar percentage of 26.50%.
With that in mind, there are many young people on the platform, as new generations are interested in Instagram. Therefore, I believe Instagram is here to stay.
Instagram’s Competitors
Another factor to consider when determining why Instagram is no longer the top social media platform among young users is its competition.
A significant amount of money can be found in the social media platform landscape, prompting many companies worldwide to try to develop a platform of their own.
Although most attempts failed, they led to the emergence of giants like YouTube, TikTok, and even OnlyFans, which now compete for the same customers who once exclusively flocked to Instagram.
Let’s examine each of these three platforms and how they attract casual Instagram users.
YouTube
I know it’s not included in the competitors’ screenshot, but let’s be real—YouTube is, in terms of user time spent, Instagram’s competitor.
Although YouTube is primarily a media sharing platform rather than a social media one, it has still managed to attract users away from Instagram.
Gen Z users are highly interested in the lives of their idols, who are often popular YouTubers sharing glimpses of their daily routines on this platform, which draws young people to follow them avidly.
Additionally, YouTube serves as an excellent platform for staying updated on world news through its numerous videos, making the website significantly more informative than Instagram.
TikTok
Perhaps Instagram’s biggest competitor, and the primary reason it is viewed as a declining platform, TikTok is the social network for sharing short videos and promoting businesses.
Much easier to utilize than Instagram’s algorithm, TikTok provides a shortcut to local or even global popularity for anyone skilled enough to leverage it.
Furthermore, since most users on the platform are from Generation Z, the platform is specifically designed to cater to their short attention spans and their inclination to follow trends.
OnlyFans
The final significant competitor to Instagram in attracting its users to a different platform is OnlyFans. Targeted at a more mature audience and featuring 18+ content, this platform is populated by legal-age teenagers seeking to take their first steps into adulthood.
Because of its more relaxed policies regarding content creation and the ability to earn money directly from your followers on the platform, OnlyFans has emerged as a primary source of secondary income for young people worldwide.
One advantage for Instagram is that OnlyFans is frequently banned in more conservative regions, rendering it inaccessible to many users who might otherwise join the platform.
Is Instagram a Dying Platform?
Although Instagram has encountered challenges over the past several years, it would be inaccurate to label it a dead or dying social network, given the hundreds of millions of users it still retains.
That being said, if no changes are made, it is anticipated that the app will continue to lose users and shrink in size throughout this decade.
Instagram’s competitors are not its only challenge. The platform has existed for a considerable time, and despite some visual updates, it has largely remained unchanged since 2012, when it was acquired by Facebook.
Consequently, Instagram may seem quite outdated, particularly when compared to other platforms.
For instance, the explore function is significantly less interactive than that of TikTok, and the opportunity to showcase yourself to potential followers is nearly nonexistent.
Furthermore, the previously available feature to track your followers’ likes and comments, which provided a convenient way to understand your community’s interests, is no longer available.
Ultimately, Instagram appears to be better suited for sharing photos or photo albums of friends and family rather than for promoting a small business, which seems to represent the future of social media platforms.
Consequently, many individuals transition to different platforms as they age and begin considering their careers.
Other Issues Instagram Is Facing
Neither competition nor a lack of novelties would be sufficient to bring Instagram down on its own; however, together, they present a different challenge. To make matters worse, these are not the only issues that experts have observed.
In a sense, the primary reason some people believe Instagram is dead is not due to the platform’s declining popularity, but rather the parent company, Facebook, losing focus on what is necessary to secure the future of this social network.
While other networks are cultivating their own aesthetics and striving to create new opportunities for their users, Instagram appears to be trapped in a bygone era, struggling to adapt to the challenges of the modern landscape as they do, which is causing it to inevitably lag further and further behind.
Conclusion
While claiming that Instagram is a dead platform would be inaccurate, it is true that it feels somewhat outdated compared to its competitors, partly due to its parent company, Facebook.
From the search bar to the functionality of its inbox and video sharing, the Instagram app is simply too outdated to maintain its top position in the niche, although it still holds a significant presence.
This is mainly because many people grew up with it and continue to be loyal out of habit, although it still attracts new users, just at a slower pace than before.
FAQ
Is Instagram on the decline?
With other platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat, and OnlyFans rising to prominence in the social media world, Instagram has been fighting a losing battle for a long time now. As a result, it is almost certain that the company is facing a decline, though it remains very profitable and largely stable.
Is Instagram still popular in 2022?
Despite people clamoring about its decline, Instagram remains one of the most popular social media platforms, with several hundred million daily users worldwide. However, its ability to attract new ones is questionable, and it appears to be slowly losing ground to other networks such as Snapchat and TikTok.
Is Instagram still growing?
Even the most involved experts are having difficulty ascertaining Instagram’s current and future growth. While the platform is undoubtedly still attracting new users, it is uncertain if it is doing it at a faster rate than it loses already existing ones, leaving this topic up for debate.
