Candice Williamson
With over 1.07 billion active users, Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms today. However, as with any other online platform, some inherent risks and dangers come with using it. In this article, we’ll discuss the top 7 dangers of Instagram in 2021. Remember that these risks can vary depending on your personal settings and how you use the app. Knowing the dangers will allow you to stay vigilant and properly protect yourself on Instagram.
Cyberbullying
We all know that cyberbullying is a big issue today, and it is no different on Instagram. Seeing as how the app allows users to have complete control over what they post, some use this as an opportunity to bully others for their own entertainment. That means making negative comments about the person in the photo or even going so far as posting something completely humiliating or embarrassing. This could lead to feelings of depression, anxiety, self-harm, and even suicide – especially if the victim does not have any friends or family around who can help them through these dark times.
Inappropriate Content
As much as we would all like to believe that inappropriate content does not exist on Instagram, the sad truth is that it does. And it can be anything from images or videos of people in compromising or embarrassing situations to sexually explicit content. This type of content can be extremely damaging, especially for young people who may not yet have developed a strong sense of self-identity. It can lead to them feeling ashamed, embarrassed, and even disgusted with themselves, which can seriously impact their mental health.
One of the Biggest Dangers of Instagram is Privacy Risks
One of the biggest dangers of using Instagram is the fact that it is a publicly-facing platform. This means that anyone – including strangers – can see your photos and posts without having to sign up for an account. While this may not seem like a big deal at first, lurking strangers may use this information for more harmful purposes. For example, they could use the information to find out your home address and phone number – which can then lead to a number of privacy issues and even physical threats.
Sharing Personal Information
One of the benefits of Instagram is that it allows you to easily share photos with family and friends – without having to send them one by one. However, as convenient as this feature is, you need to make sure that you are not sharing too much personal information when doing so. You should always think about how any potentially embarrassing or damaging posts can reflect on others associated with those posts, such as family members or co-workers. So always use your best judgment before sharing anything.
Unwanted Attention
When you first start using Instagram, it is likely that you will receive a great deal of attention from others – especially if you are sharing content that garners likes and shares. While this may present as a good thing (and it can be), some people often misread the intentions behind these interactions. Seeing as how most users only post flattering images of themselves, there is always the chance that they could be seeking validation or rewards through these posts in order to make themselves feel better about themselves. So tread carefully when accepting friend requests from strangers and making comments with random users online because they could end up using this information for harmful purposes later on down the road.
Social Comparison
One of the biggest dangers of using Instagram is the fact that it can lead to social comparison. This happens when you begin to compare your life (and the things that you post on Instagram) to the lives of others. It can be easy to get wrapped up in this type of thinking, especially if you only see the top highlights of other people’s lives and not the actual day-to-day happenings. This can lead to feelings of self-doubt, inadequacy, and even depression – all because you are comparing your life to something that is not real.
Negative Body Image
Last but not least, one of the biggest dangers of using Instagram is its potential to cause negative body image. This is especially true for women, who are more likely to see unrealistic depictions of the female form on Social Media. While this may seem like a good thing at first (especially if you are trying to hide an area you’re not proud of), it can actually have very negative effects on your mental health in the long run. Seeing pictures throughout Instagram that don’t accurately represent reality can cause feelings of inadequacy and even depression, leading to destructive habits, such as skipping meals or over-exercising. At this point, all we can do is hope that social media sites take these dangers into account when creating new features and updates for their platforms.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are a number of dangers associated with using Instagram. While some of these dangers may seem like they only apply to a small number of people, it is always important to be aware of them so that you can take the necessary precautions. So if you are thinking about joining Instagram or are already a user, make sure that you keep the above dangers in mind and take steps to protect yourself from them.
