“[New media encompasses] all kinds of media formats as long as they are… evolving” – Siapera, 2012.
Again the idea that social media always has to be updating comes up.
Is that why Instagram switched the activity and private message buttons around?
Every time I want to message someone I instinctively tap on the top right corner or just swipe to the left. But now if I swipe nothing happens and I am left dumbfounded for a moment before I realise things have changed, or I accidentally open up the activity page and see that I’ve liked 3 posts tagged #garden in the last week. Great, I didn’t want to see this mostly unhelpful information, I wanted to open a message.
But why is this update necessary?
Who benefits from just swapping around the layout of two buttons?
Besides from a brief description when actually updating the application stating that it’s providing performance updates, no other explanation is given. I can honestly not see any logical reason behind this change. All the updates manages to do is disrupt a users experience on the platform. Effectively being counterproductive, as it makes the performance of the platform less efficient. And there is a possibility that once users become acclimatised to this new layout, another update will appear with a more apparently “innovative” update.
It is just an update for the sake of updating.
Besides my slight annoyance with minor updates, I feel like it’s relevant to note here that I still prefer to use on old Mac book pro from 2012 that hardly functions, the per to per interaction that social media provides outweighs this seemingly unnecessary updating.
Especially now, in a time of prolonged social distancing, social media provides a sense of connection I would not otherwise have, besides with my immediate family. With the presence of social media, Instagram especially, as mentioned above I can message friends but also stay connected in other ways. I am able to connect with friends, as most people are sharing what they’re doing while isolated, this constant sharing provides myself and others with the realisation that everyone is in a similar situation. Everyone is trying to find things to do. Most importantly everyone is trying to stay connected in some way.
Social media helps us to stay connected even in difficult situations, despite all the negatives that may be associated with it, at least it serves as a platform for communication and connection.
References:
Siapera, E. 2013, Understanding New Media, SAGE Publications, London.