Pressure Cracks

Let’s all agree on something. Instagram is insane. I know this is far from an earth shattering take, but it’s one that I’m reminded of on a somewhat constant basis. Here’s what got me returning to this beaten up, exhausted thought this time. 

There is a max amount of people you are allowed to follow on the app. Want to know what that number is? 7,500 people. I find this interesting for a number of reasons. One: Is Instagram stating that it is impossible to know 7,500 people? How dare this all seeing social media amalgam make assumptions on how strong my network is. 

Two: What’s the point of this regulatory number? Does Instagram come crashing down if this marker is surpassed. I’m having a hard time believing it would. And isn’t the goal of Instagram to keep you mindlessly scrolling forever. Wouldn’t the chances of this reality be higher if one were to follow so many people that the end of the feed was like Blackbeard’s treasure, never to be found? 

Three: What the fuck does an Instagram account following 7,500 people look like? I’ve refused to follow more than 1,000 people for some time now, as this is the way I justify my IGs purposeful curation, and even at this number I’ve never reached the end of the incessant stories. I’m also convinced that Instagram shows me the same 200 accounts when in reality there’s 800 more after that. How could someone juggle 7,500?

I’ve come to this conclusion: They can’t. There’s no way you could possibly look at, let alone enjoy, 7,500 Instagram accounts. So what does this all mean for the person that, when I followed them, felt the need to DM me and explain that they can’t follow me back because they’ve reached the limit?

It means they’ve figured out something we’ve all been considering for some time now.  Instagram no longer exists as an application of social connection and pleasure. It is simply a networking app, akin to Linkedin, existing to promote the latest project and show off a lifestyle suited for brands to use you as a promotional tool. 

Woah, woah, woah. Let’s zoom back in here to this DM before I begin spiraling out. Following someone back, to me, is a move of recognition. It’s an alignment. It’s saying, “I like what you do and you like what I do.” While this is still true today, I’ve noticed there is this new pressure to follow back. When I received this DM, I felt a frantic tone, a tone of “Please don’t be offended by my non-follow back.” 

While I wasn’t offended in the slightest, I understood the sentiment. A follow is a form of currency, one that is expected after meeting someone or working with someone. By refusing to pay, you’re either saying the experience of meeting/working wasn’t enjoyable or that you don’t think this person will bring anything worthwhile into your life. 

Oof. Those are harsh things to say, and by no means do I think this is always true, but I think these are the stakes you’re left to combat with when following someone new. Personally, I don’t want to follow back everyone I work with or meet, chiefly because of the sentiments above. I don’t want to join the 7,500 club, lost in a feed that never ends. 

I’m already left teetering on my personal 1,000 line, where every new follow means I have to evaluate my “least interacted with” section on my following list. That being said, what are you to do when you find yourself in the situation where you’ve reached your limit, left to DM every new follower an apology as to why you’re virtually leaving them hanging. 

I’m not sure, and I’m unconvinced anyone knows. Following someone is the power of your Instagram account. Keeping that power autonomous, and not left to the business transaction that it has become, is a tough undertaking, because if you can’t pay me back the follow, why am I going to go broke for you?