Instagram was once considered the most popular social media platform globally, but this may not hold true for much longer.
Other apps and websites, including TikTok, OnlyFans, and their imitations, have started to grow in number and popularity, potentially challenging Instagram’s leading position for the first time since its launch.
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 to question, “Is Instagram dying?” Are other platforms becoming more attractive to users? But is that really the case? Let’s explore.
Table of Contents
Is Instagram Dying
By examining Google Trends and data from Similarweb, it is evident that Instagram is NOT dying. In fact, we may be observing a consistent rise in the platform’s popularity. Its audience is primarily young, which is a vital factor when evaluating whether a social network is in decline.
Its trend is stable, as demonstrated in the image above, which is clear. 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 ability to attract new users.
Social media platforms are highly popular among young people for self-expression, whether through casual posting or by attempting to build a career as an internet personality.
While Instagram was once the favored platform for older generations, much like Facebook and Myspace before it, today it faces competition from many other platforms that focus on short, attention-grabbing content.
Unlike the Instagram app, which mainly emphasizes photo sharing, these new competitors are much more in tune with Gen Z’s desire to pursue a career in content creation.
Therefore, to “stay cool” and attract more young users, Instagram is required to change, evolving from a convenient platform for photo sharing to a tool for promoting your company or brand to a broader audience.
It is undoubtedly the most popular platform among young people. Individuals aged 25-34 represent 32.15% of the user base, but that’s not all: those aged 18-24 are also highly engaged, comprising a similar percentage of 26.50%.
Considering this, many young people are using the platform, as new generations show interest in Instagram. Therefore, I believe Instagram is here to stay.
Instagram’s Competitors
Another factor to consider when assessing why Instagram is no longer the leading social media platform among young users is its competition.
A substantial amount of money exists within the social media platform landscape, prompting many companies globally to attempt to create a platform of their own.
Although most attempts were unsuccessful, they resulted in 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 explore each of these three platforms and how they engage casual Instagram users.
YouTube
I understand that it’s not featured in the competitors’ screenshot, but let’s be honest—YouTube is, in terms of user time spent, a competitor to Instagram.
Although YouTube is primarily a media-sharing platform rather than a social media platform, it has still managed to draw users away from Instagram.
Gen Z users are very interested in the lives of their idols, who are often popular YouTubers sharing insights into their daily routines on this platform, which attracts young people to follow them enthusiastically.
Additionally, YouTube is an excellent platform for staying updated on world news through its many videos, making the website considerably more informative than Instagram.
TikTok
Often considered Instagram’s biggest competitor and the main reason it is perceived as a declining platform, TikTok is the social network for sharing short videos and promoting businesses.
Much easier to use than Instagram’s algorithm, TikTok offers a shortcut to local or even global popularity for anyone skilled enough to take advantage of it.
Additionally, as most users on the platform belong to Generation Z, it is specifically designed to accommodate their short attention spans and tendency to follow trends.
OnlyFans
The final major competitor to Instagram in drawing users to a different platform is OnlyFans. Aimed at a more mature audience and featuring 18+ content, this platform is frequented by legal-age teenagers looking to take their initial steps into adulthood.
Due to its more relaxed policies on content creation and the opportunity to earn money directly from your followers on the platform, OnlyFans has become a major source of secondary income for young people around the globe.
One advantage for Instagram is that OnlyFans is often banned in more conservative regions, making it inaccessible to many users who might otherwise join the platform.
Is Instagram a Dying Platform?
While Instagram has faced challenges in recent years, it would be incorrect to describe it as a dead or dying social network, considering the hundreds of millions of users it still has.
That being said, if no changes are implemented, it is expected that the app will continue to lose users and decrease in size throughout this decade.
Instagram’s competitors are not its only challenge. The platform has been around for a significant period, and despite some visual updates, it has largely remained unchanged since 2012, when it was acquired by Facebook.
As a result, Instagram may appear quite outdated, especially in comparison to other platforms.
For example, the explore function is much less interactive than TikTok’s, and the chance to present yourself to potential followers is almost nonexistent.
Furthermore, the previously available feature that allowed you to track your followers’ likes and comments, which offered a convenient way to understand your community’s interests, is no longer available.
Ultimately, Instagram seems to be more suitable for sharing photos or photo albums of friends and family, rather than for promoting a small business, which appears to represent the future of social media platforms.
As a result, many individuals shift to different platforms as they grow older and start contemplating their careers.
Other Issues Instagram Is Facing
Neither competition nor a lack of novelties would be enough to bring Instagram down on its own; however, together, they pose a different challenge. To complicate matters further, these are not the only issues that experts have noted.
In a sense, the main reason some people think Instagram is dead is not because of the platform’s declining popularity, but rather due to the parent company, Facebook, losing focus on what is needed to ensure the future of this social network.
While other networks are developing their own aesthetics and working to create new opportunities for their users, Instagram seems to be stuck in a past era, struggling to adapt to the challenges of the modern landscape. This struggle is causing it to fall further behind.
Conclusion
While asserting that Instagram is a dead platform would be inaccurate, it is true that it feels somewhat outdated compared to its competitors, partly because of 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 retain its leading position in the niche, even though it still maintains a significant presence.
This is primarily because many people grew up with it and remain loyal out of habit, although it still attracts new users, albeit 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.
