Geographic Differences on Instagram

Being a worldwide platform, Instagram has many differences depending on where you use it. From different trends to censorship, let’s examine some of these geographical differences.

Some Trends By Country

No matter what country you’re in, Instagram is a platform for fashion trends, memes, and everyday life. However, these trends can vary from country to country. Here are some examples.

India

Instagram is widely used in India, with Gen Z leading the charge. Like most countries, Indian Instagram has many fashion trends but with its own unique flair. One example is DIY versions of popular Indian attire, such as sarees, a type of dress, and jhumkas, which are earrings.

Gen Z Indians are also into thrifting and GRWM (Get Ready With Me.) Thrifting is a universal trend where people look for clothing and other items from used stores. Meanwhile, GRWM showcases influencers as they get ready for an event.

Another trend is that many Indian Instagrammers do not like memes that are in bad taste. While what constitutes as bad taste is subjective, it shows that many Instagrammers in that country wish not to offend. It doesn’t matter if you buy instant Instagram likes on your meme; it needs to be good to appeal to Indians.

South Korea

South Korean Instagram trends are pretty interesting. Other countries may see Instagram as a time-waster, being a place you visit too much when you should be doing something else. However, South Korea is a bit different. Two hashtags reveal this.

One is “Gongstagram,” which is a combination of “gongbu” (studying) and Instagram. Many people using this hashtag share tips on studying and keeping motivated. When someone lacks a study group, they may use this hashtag to find a community.

Another example is “ounwan,” or the acronym for “today’s exercise completed.” Exercise is a popular trend in South Korea, and many South Koreans use this hashtag to get motivated or to share tips.

It goes to show that Instagram is not necessarily here to waste your time, and it can help you be your very best.

Japan

Japan is known to outsiders as being a country with many bizarre tendencies, and its trends are no exception. One example is the onigiri challenge. Onigiri is a rice ball, and many Japanese Instagram users will add various changes to it or edit it to give it the shape of animals, fictional characters, and more.

Another one is the Gudetama challenge, based on a Japanese cartoon starring a lazy character. The challenge involves a person showing their lazy expression. So the trend is based on who can make the most effort into looking like they’re making the least effort.

Countries With Censorship

Several countries have banned Instagram and other social media platforms in the West. These countries include China, North Korea, Iran, and several others. The reasons why these countries have banned these platforms vary, but the most common reason is that they want their citizens to use platforms with much more heavy monitoring. This usually is to prevent people from speaking out against their government.

However, just because a country has banned an app doesn’t mean that no citizens use it. Through VPNs and other tools, people use these apps to bring awareness of the injustices happening in their countries. Here are some examples.

Iran

One example of Iranians using Instagram is after the death of Mahsa Amini in September 2022. Amini was arrested for breaking hijab laws and died in police custody. Her death sparked a wave of protests, and while the government tried cracking down on Instagram, many citizens found ways to share what was going on in the country to bring awareness to other countries.

China

China is another country where Instagram is banned. However, despite the ban, it is still an influential app in the country, with over 3 million users. Many Chinese citizens see Instagram as a luxury platform, and many fashion trends from Instagram influence the trends on Chinese social media platforms. Ironically, banning the app appears to have made it more powerful in the country.

Many celebrities and influencers in China also use Instagram. Because they have a big social media team and more resources, they are able to use the platform more freely than others. Instagram is a platform where these Chinese celebrities are more open to speaking their minds and talking about their personal lives, while their content may be toned down on Chinese apps.

North Korea

Even if you know little about geopolitics, you probably know that North Korea is a very authoritarian and secluded country, with few glimpses inside of it available to outsiders.

The few accounts available try to paint the country in a more positive light, showing photos of activities, nature, and events. One example is the account Everyday DPRK, where users can see curated glimpses into North Korea. However, even these accounts have since fallen, with Everyday DPRK’s last upload being in 2019. Will we see more glimpses into North Korea in the future? Only time will tell.

Palestine

While not necessarily banned in the country, many Palestinians have accused the platform of censoring their posts covering the atrocities they have experienced during the ongoing Israeal-Hamas war. As of this writing, the war has been going on for only three months, yet it has moved fast. Some accounts have accused Instagram of shadow-banning their profiles. Shadow-banning is when an account isn’t removed from the platform, but its visibility is highly reduced.

One reason for this may be due to certain words being picked up by the algorithm that limits visibility, such as “terrorism.” As such, many users are adapting Algospeak, which is a euphemistic language designed to get around algorithms. One example is saying “unalive” instead of “suicide.”

Final Thoughts

Instagram is constantly evolving in each country, with new trends, memes, and tastes changing as the platform evolves. Meanwhile, many countries censor Instagram, or Instagram’s algorithm itself prevents certain voices from being heard. But there are many ways past these restrictions, allowing people to get a glimpse into what’s happening in these countries.