In nearly every aspect of Instagram, from permanent posts to 24-hour stories, we see forms of art. Whether that be the arrangement of photos you decide to order a post in, the song you picked for a note, or the reel you just reposted to your story, you had to have made creative choices along the way.
However, a lot of people question these artistic decisions and what their true intentions are behind them. Can you really express yourself openly online when your account is so public? Does social media and the opinions of your peers force you into a version of yourself that isn’t real?
And if so, can we really call it art?
Over the years, Vivian Williams, a senior at Wilsonville High School, has accumulated a very visually pleasing feed; however, she recently shared that she doesn’t just use it as a creative channel, but rather a place to keep people she cares about in the loop.
“When I do post, it’s stuff that I like and care about, usually hiking, or if I took a trip. I mainly post for myself or even my friends,” Williams stated.
Even though Williams’ main goal isn’t the aesthetic of her feed, she agrees that Instagram isn’t the same for everyone: “I think that looking at your own feed and making it your own aesthetic or basing it off how you feel can definitely be an art form depending on the person.” Letting us know that although her personal usage may differ from other people’s experiences, they are just as valid.
Regarding whether Instagram is an accurate representation of who you are, Axel Lauthner, junior, says, “No, but it’s awesome, it’s what I want to be associated with.”
Which leads us to wonder who we really curate an Instagram feed for. In recent times, there has been a spike in feminist literature reading, matcha drinking, Clairo listening men, which has accumulated into the infamous Male epidemic of 2025. This trend, labeled as “performatism,” has become huge. Some might even call it massive.
Every year, we see variations of fads, some big, some small; nonetheless, any trend becomes impactful even if just one person views it.
If the title wasn’t self-explanatory enough, this trend focuses on men who have adopted specific aesthetics and behaviors, wearing their insincerity on their sleeves and their wired headphones in their pockets.
Their end goal: unclear.
Although these trends are satirical and have no real value, the usage of a social media app centered around expression being used purely as a way to become someone you’re not is harmful.
It is one of the prime reasons for the debate on whether we should call it art; it’s the authenticity or lack thereof that starts to make us question people on a very real creative pursuit.
Despite its fake and phony aspects, Instagram is a really useful resource for those who want to show creativity but haven’t had the opportunity to do so elsewhere. It brings people together who enjoy similar things and lets them showcase their talent to an interested audience.