5 Ways Instagram Can Become More Engaging In 2016.

One of the most fashionable posts on Instagram the last few days of 2015 was a collage of pics highlighting the top 12 images you posted during the year. It was complied by going to a secondary website, entering your Instagram user name and their algorithm would then generate the collage based on the images which received the most ‘likes’.  At the bottom of the image it highlighted, how many posts you made during the year and an overall count of ‘likes’. Basically a means of boasting to your friends or followers.. “look how many likes I got!”

I’ve been using Instagram the past 6 months and as a relative newbie, I’ve been searching or asking for ways to do certain things… only to find out or be told, that can’t be done! Seeing this year end sort of collage post flood my feed the past week or so, it only confirmed that my initial thoughts of what’s missing on Instagram may be on point.

Now, I fully understand that the idea is to make the platform streamlined and not have too many options which will only clutter, slow down and ruin the overall user experience. But I still think there’s room for improvements.

Here are are the 5 things I believe will improve Instagram.

1. Total Likes! In the bio area when you click on someone’s profile, where it shows Posts | Followers | Following there should also have a stat showing how many likes this person’s images accumulated.

2. Sort. When you click on the profile of someone you follow or someone with an unlocked account it would be nice to be able to sort the results by views or tags. Currently I believe it’s only displayed/sorted by date posted (most current first). I’d like to see which of this person’s images gets the most likes and see determine.. does it deserve my ‘like’? By the sort by tag feature, I can then group images by a common theme. Let’s say I’m interested in images of  surfing in Uluwatu and Kuta, Bali in this account, I’d be able to have them grouped and not have to dig! Well I guess it can be argued that the goal is to have you engaged and stay long on the platform? Add – sort by total comments as well.. lets see which image or video is generating the most discussion.

3. Who Follows ME? The ability to see who follows me back (in plain sight) without the use of a plugin or app. If I’m browsing though my ‘activity’ page (following) where it shows who likes my image or video, have an icon display to show if the person who ‘liked’ your image follows you. I’m more inclined to click on that person’s profile and see what their stuff is all about.

4. Discover People! On the discover people page please give me the option to delete and never have to see the same recommended options. If I didn’t click or add that person/image to my profile the 5 times you suggested it to me, chances are I NEVER will. I’m simply not interested. Now I’m not saying to ban a complete profile from me, just the specific image from that person when I click the ‘x’. If after I click 5 ‘x’ (you can set a number) on the person’s profile, then you can permanently never show me their suggestion again.

5. Crush? Have the ability to anonymously  hit like on an image without having to reveal your identity. I think it will help with some of the relationship drama created with ‘liking’ images and videos.

At the end of the day these are just suggestions based on my observations using Instagram the past 6 months. Sexy sells (look at the Instagram accounts with the million + followers), and it puts some people at a clear advantage over others (such is life). I believe some of the suggestions above will help us become even more engaged, allow us to reward people for following us (by following back) and at least help us filter out some of the garbage we’re not interested in.

What changes would you like to see on Instagram?