Instagram for Beginners: The Basics Explained

Nearly 4.5 billion people use social media worldwide—that’s more than half of the world’s population!

Some of the most popular platforms include Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, and Snapchat.

Instagram is popular as well, especially among teens and young adults. As of 2021, there are more than one billion monthly active users.

Thinking of making an account? Looking for some Instagram tips and tricks? If so, you’re at the right place.

We’ve put together an Instagram for beginners guide with everything that you need to know below. Keep reading to learn more!

How to Post an Image 

Tap on the “+” icon on the top right-hand corner of the screen. You’ll have two options—you can either upload an image (or video) from your photo library or take a new one with your camera.

Once you’ve selected your image(s), tap on the ‘next’ button. You’ll be able to edit your post with various filters; you can also adjust the brightness, contrast, warmth, etc.

Finally, you can add a caption. If you want, you can also tag your friends or add a location. When you’re ready to publish your post, tap on ‘share’ at the top-right hand corner.

How to Use Hashtags 

Hashtags are used to categorize content; they consist of a word or phrase and are preceded by the # symbol. Not only will they provide your post with more visibility, but they can also help you reach your target audience.

To add a hashtag to your post, type the # symbol followed by a keyword. Make sure there are no spaces. The most popular hashtags will pop up as you type, including the number of posts that are under that tag.

Tap on the one that you’d like to use and it’ll automatically be added to your post (you can add up to 30 hashtags).

How to Use Instagram Direct

Instagram Direct is the platform’s direct messaging feature, which allows you to private message anyone with an account.

To send a DM, tap on the paper airplane icon on the top right-hand corner of the screen. You’ll see a list of recent conversations (you can view their Instagram profiles by tapping on their names).

To start a new chat, tap on the pencil icon. Type in the name of the user whom you’d like to message and tap on ‘chat’. A conversation window will automatically pop up.

Does Instagram notify a screenshot if you take one? The answer is—it depends. Generally speaking, the person you’re talking to won’t be alerted to the fact that you’re saving the conversation.

The only exception is if you’re screenshotting a vanishing message (messages that automatically delete themselves once they’re seen).

Instagram for Beginners – Knowing How to Use the Platform

And there you have it—a guide to using Instagram for beginners. As you can see, there are various features that you can play around with. If anything, that’s what makes the app so fun!

Did you find this post helpful? For more content like this, check out the rest of our mobile apps category!