This week, we dive into the extensive transformation that Instagram underwent in the year 2016. Starting off with the infamous makeup trends that defined the era, we discuss Kylie Jenner Lip Kits and James Charles’ bold eyebrows. We ponder the “Instagram Baddie” and how influencers shaped 2016’s “Girlboss Feminism." Listen along as we dissect how the birth of the algorithm and Instagram Stories contributed to the platform’s commercialization, and advertisements being found at every swipe and scroll. Is social media still social?

Links:

Pinterest Board

Ashley Reed, “The Rise and Rise of Instagram in 2016” (Medium)

Mike Isaac, “Instagram Takes a Page From Snapchat, and Takes Aim at It, Too” (New York Times)

Taylor Loren, “Instagram Year in Review: Top Trends from 2016” (Later.com)

Find us:

⁠Instagram⁠

⁠TikTok⁠

⁠Spotify⁠

⁠Tumblr⁠

⁠Twitter⁠ 

Watch ⁠this episode⁠ on YouTube

Timestamps:

Intro 00:00

2016 Makeup 01:31

2016 Fashion 08:19

Instagram Stories 11:58

The Algorithm & Commercialization 14:55

App-Hopping Influencers 22:25

2016 Election & White Girlboss Feminism 23:14

Blogging 25:17

What did we post? 25:28

Instagram Themes & Old Trends 28:06

Outro 31:01

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