Communication and Interaction on Instagram. A Psychological Science Perspective

Essay , 2012 , 13 Pages , Grade: 1.33

Communications - Mass Media

"We're communicators by nature, and things like Instagram offer us a new language to speak with" say Daryl Peveto and Matt Slaby from Luceo Image Agency in a recent interview about the shifts in the paradigms of photographic and online communication (Laurent, 2012). Considering the increasing volume of communication via online channels, their words may be interpreted as not surprising at all. However, the universe of social media platforms shows a great diversity in terms of the distinct offerings for different motivational needs of the users. Inspiring from this variance, this paper will first highlight the distinct features of Instagram. Secondly, the paper will attempt to assert Instagram into an alternative and empirically supported framework of social media goals by Hoffman and Novak (2012) in order to differentiate its utility from other platforms. Thirdly the paper will critically compare and contrast Instagram and other well-known social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Xing, Google+) on the basis of variety of theories like social interaction, self-understanding and self-expression. A subsequent conclusion will then be formulated with respect to the whole analysis.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• Scanning Instagram
• Placing Instagram into a Framework
• Comparative Analysis of Instagram on Theoretical Basis
• Conclusion
• Reference
• Appendix

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This paper aims to analyze the communication and interaction aspects of Instagram from a psychological science perspective. It explores the platform's unique features, its place within a framework of social media goals, and its comparative analysis with other popular platforms.

• The distinct features of Instagram and its role in online communication.
• Placement of Instagram within a framework of social media goals.
• Comparative analysis of Instagram with other social media platforms.
• The role of social interaction, self-understanding, and self-expression on Instagram.
• The impact of Instagram on communication and interaction patterns.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

The introduction provides an overview of the paper's objectives and the growing importance of online communication platforms. It highlights the unique features of Instagram and its potential for communication and interaction.

The "Scanning Instagram" section delves into the platform's functionalities, including its image-centric nature, anonymity options, and social sharing features. It explores how Instagram combines the communicative value of images with social screen modes, creating a unique platform for self-expression and social interaction.

The "Placing Instagram into a Framework" section examines the framework of social media goals developed by Hoffman and Novak (2012). It analyzes Instagram's position within this framework, highlighting its focus on connecting and consuming content, while also demonstrating a slight shift towards control and creation goals.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The keywords and focus themes of the text include Instagram, social media, communication, interaction, social interaction, self-understanding, self-expression, social media goals, comparative analysis, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Xing, Google+, online communication, image-centric platform, social screen, anonymity, content creation, content consumption, connection, control.

• College: Jacobs University Bremen gGmbH
• Grade: 1.33
• Author: Kaan Akkanat (Author)
• Publication Year: 2012
• Pages: 13
• Catalog Number: V292770
• ISBN (eBook): 9783656898740
• ISBN (Book): 9783656898757
• Language: English
• Tags: communication, interaction, instagram, psychological, science, perspective