Instagram secrets teenagers know (and adults don't) 🤳 🤷
Teenagers work around the system, act as a group and seem to do better on Instagram than the average user. Here is how they do it.
None of us would be surprised to learn that teenagers (or users up to about twenty) have a secret guide on how to use Instagram. Whether it is getting more likes, sharing beautiful photos or engaging with followers, younger users seem to know more about this social network than most people.
So we looked at a few accounts to see exactly what makes them so successful, and how you can apply these tactics to your own brand.
They know how to work around the system
This trick was spotted on one of the posts of Kylie Jenner, Kim Kardashian's sister, a global celebrity and one of the youngest self-made millionaires ever thanks to her make-up line. Most of the comments on her photos include "LB", "CB", "FB" or "First", which stand for Like Back, Comment Back, Follow Back and First (the user wants likes on their most recent photo). In Portugal, the same system also works with Portuguese hashtags.
Many Instagram users comment on celebrity posts precisely to get likes, comments and more followers. If you see someone comment "LB" and you like that person's latest photo, you can expect them to return the favour.
Some social media experts ran an experiment and left a comment on a public figure's post. The result? Within seconds, their latest photo got more than ten likes and two new followers. The secret? Instagram's algorithm.
The algorithm shows users the most relevant posts, or the ones they will find most interesting, instead of sorting them in chronological order. The Facebook-owned network decides this based on factors such as timing and engagement.
With organic reach in constant decline, teenagers realised that the more likes and comments their photos get, the more easily their audience (their friends) will remember them. If your brand is seeing a drop in reach, try this trick. But remember that other users, your current or potential customers, can see what you are doing. Make sure your business is liking and commenting on appropriate content.
They are not afraid to overdo it
Over-the-top behaviour, whether a reaction or a highly emotional reply, is typical of teenagers. They do not hold back from sharing how they feel or what they are doing, and their growing use of Instagram reflects this. Unlike some brands, teenagers are not afraid of taking risks, either in real life or online.
If they are celebrating something, or if they are upset, they usually do not try to hide it. And it is this shameless, emotional content that gives them high engagement rates.
Stirring up emotions can genuinely increase the chances of your message being shared. When people feel moved or inspired, certain areas of the brain become active, and that boosts social sharing.
Emotions play a crucial role in social media engagement, and teenagers are not afraid to test this. Real feelings also help send a message of authenticity to your audience. Being relentlessly positive is highly unrealistic, and the people on these networks know it. Even so, adding a little real content and personality to your Instagram feed from time to time is a good way to see how your audience reacts.
They edit their own photos
While teen users love to share authentic content, they also want to make sure their photos follow a certain style. Aesthetics are everything: if a photo or video does not match the overall look, it does not get posted.
A few weeks ago, Mariana Machado, from the blog Double Trouble, explained in an Instagram story how she edits the photos on her feed. Her followers had asked which editing program she liked best and whether she used presets. The blogger explained that she uses Adobe Lightroom and that, although she has no set filters, she tries to keep her photos in the same orange or pink tones.
This is common practice on the accounts of celebrities, influencers and instagrammers, and also of people who are none of these but already have a large following. Try doing the same to see whether it has any effect on your target audience.
They work as a group
If you need a lesson in loyalty, look no further than the accounts of teenagers you know (or don't know, but whose accounts are public). Whenever a friend posts, they like it and/or comment straight away to show their support. In a study by experts, one teenage girl explained that she had a group chat with her friends where they told everyone whenever they posted a photo. That way, everyone could go and comment with emojis (hearts or flames) or just leave a few words of support. It all helps to generate engagement.
As well as these groups of loyal friends, many teenagers belong to Instagram pods. An Insta Pod is a secret group of users who join forces to like and comment on each other's posts and so generate more engagement on the network. These sub-groups work through private messages between users and relevant brands.
For example, a clothing brand might be in the same group as others. When one of them posts, all the other members of the group are expected to give it a like or leave a comment.
The key to joining these "pods" is finding the right influencers for your industry. On Buzzsumo, for example, you will find an influencer search tool. Just search by keyword and you will get a complete list of influential people on Instagram.
Once you have a list of potential pod members, get in touch with them and start working together. And remember: if you wait for likes but never give any back, you will be asked to leave the group.
