The Era Of Casual Instagram Takes The App Back To Its Roots

Like so many other things in my adolescent years, I started my Instagram account in 2014 entirely because of the British boy band, One Direction.

I would take a few selfies and immediately select the one I liked best before posting it to Instagram. 

If I was doing homework, I’d take a picture of it and make sure the caption expressed how stressful it was. If I had gone out with my family, I’d rearrange a collage full of photos and add a white border to it.

I wasn’t aware of the anxiety that comes with posting on social media at the time, nor of the “casual Instagram” look that has recently taken over the app. 

No one cared about pretty pictures.

But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that Instagram has changed the way we portray ourselves to the public throughout the years.

According to Business of Apps, there are about 1.4 billion Instagram users in the world

Instagram Business Statistics states the app has about 200 million business profiles and 500,000 active influencers, many of whom are noted for having well-curated, visually beautiful feeds in their profile.

Throughout the years, many users have worked extensively to preserve a certain “feel” on Instagram by using intentional editing and beauty filters.

Instagram evolved from a simple photo-sharing software to a popularity contest based on approval. 

The possibility of profiting from Instagram sponsorships reinforced the desire to exclusively broadcast the picture-perfect aspects of one’s life.

There’s nothing wrong with presenting your best self or using filters to enhance things, but instead of propagating insane beauty standards, be transparent about it.  

However, there has been a shift in how Instagram is used by influencers. 

Many users are choosing mismatched photo dumps, amusing “sh*tposts,” and unplanned shots of daily stuff instead of having carefully curated, unified feeds. 

But now it appears that “casual Instagram” has arrived, with its sloppy and mismatched vibe.

Instead of solely uploading glam images and immaculate selfies, you can share photos of everyday moments in your life, such as a selfie of you in your sweatpants or your not-so-photogenic meal. 

The casual look is meant to be a more laid-back approach to social media—possibly a reaction to the well-manicured feeds that have overtaken the app.

We are even seeing this type of feed on celebrities’ pages. 

Timothée Chalamet randomly posts his Cup Noodles meal, and Charli D’Amelio posts her messy kitchen and unedited photos with her dog.

At the end of the day, it’s up to you whether you want to go for a casual or a more curated look. You may even commit to a certain overall aesthetic while throwing a casual post or photo dump on your page every now and then.

Whether your feed is considered casual or not, Instagram can still be a pleasant, enjoyable experience. It’s all about how you approach the app, not necessarily how your photos look.

We are our harshest critics and the things we over-analyze about ourselves are probably not even on the minds of others.