On October 4, 2021, Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp experienced a total shutdown worldwide. Since then, my interest in one of these Mark Zuckerberg-owned apps has waned. Yet, as an avid user of Instagram to share my favorite moments, my curiosity led me to research various alternatives to Instagram. Just like you, I wonder if this glitzy and glamorous social media app can be replaced.
Quick answer: This hunger for something that could serve me as well as Instagram led me to search for the ultimate social media platform(s) that would replace Instagram. In this article, I’ve selected five platforms with the most potential to replace Instagram. These are Snapchat, TikTok, Imgur, VSCO and 500px.
I will also include a few other platforms that you might be interested in as alternatives to Instagram. Get on board, it’s going to be a wonderful trip.
Replacement #1: TikTok
The first app that comes to mind to replace Instagram is the reigning social media champ, TikTok. The app is so popular that it is impossible to browse other social media platforms (Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook, etc.) without seeing videos from this app.
This shows you how popular the app is, which has over 689 million monthly active users. Although TikTok is not the same as Instagram, it is the best app that can replace Instagram reels, and it is more popular than the latter, although it has been banned in India.
TikTok is based on short videos with a duration of around 15 seconds to 3 minutes. It presents many innovations like the Duo, its music library, its filters, etc. Although it doesn’t have the ability to post a feed, it can do all the other things Instagram does.
It also has DM option, and the comments section can be very hilarious. It’s no wonder TikTok’s content is so much more creative than Instagram’s.
Why is TikTok becoming more popular? New creatives have joined the group, and the older ones are trying to catch up with them.
Replacement #2: Snapchat
Snapchat deserves the top spot as the ultimate Instagram replacement. It is no news that many Instagram features have been copied from Snapchat to keep users on the app.
Stories, face filters, disappearing messages and more are from Snapchat. Some of these features are even much better on Snapchat. There is also the discovery feature which is similar to feeds on Instagram.
Snapchat has a range of features that can be labeled as the future of social media. Indeed, Snapchat is the king of social media innovation, with features like video stories and Snap Map, and it’s better than Instagram, so a worthy replacement.
Replacement #3: Imgur
One website that comes to mind as a replacement for Instagram in the coming years is Imgur, which is one of the favorite websites used for photo sharing. Photos, videos, memes and GIFs can be uploaded and shared with others by tagging them. It’s a viral site among meme creators, and it can be optimized.
The site also has an explore option, which makes it easy to find popular content. Also, the new messaging feature serves the same purpose as Instagram’s direct message feature.
As long as your account is public, this website may well replace Instagram. Visit the website today, and you could be one of the pioneers of the Instagram successor website.
Cons of Imgua: The downside of this website is that it is basically a public platform, but still offers some privacy since you can hide your content, making it untraceable.
Replacement #4: VSCO
VSCO is one of the great photo editors supported by both Android and iOS. It has a creative side consisting of a large group of creative users. In this group, you can post your content, network with other creatives, participate in weekly challenges, and discover extensive original content.
It also has a great discovery feature that can be tailored to your preferences based on tags and other variables. It has advanced video effects and presets functions.
Another standout feature is that on VSCO, only you know how many followers your account has, allowing more focus on novelty and creativity, unlike the popularity tirade on Instagram. Thus, it is a versatile creative application with great potential.
The disadvantages of VSCO: The disadvantage is that some of its best features are only available to users who subscribe to the paid plan. There’s nothing wrong with that: no payout, no earning with VSCO.
Replacement #5: 500px
Although 500px is primarily aimed at photographers and photography-oriented marketers, it’s on this list for one compelling reason: it focuses more on quality work than on the number of followers.
This means that this application and this mobile website engage pieces that are of excellent quality, so it doesn’t matter if you only have a few followers; your work would reach a larger audience if the quality is high. It is common knowledge that on Instagram, popularity takes precedence over content. It can also be used to connect and associate with other photography professionals.
It also allows users to retain most of the rights to their images, unlike other social media platforms that take full rights to images in exchange for posting them.
Other platforms
Other platforms likely to replace Instagram include EyeEm, Pinterest, Tumblr, SquadCam and Triller. While these apps might not give you the exact Instagram feel, you might end up loving one of them.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Instagram is such a great app, and it doesn’t seem like users are giving up on it anytime soon, yet all of these apps explained above are easy replacements.
In the near future, one of these apps or websites could easily replace Instagram due to their popularity and similar/better features. If so, be sure to bookmark this article.
