Instagram is Providing Greater Transparency with a New Set of Tools
According to Social Media Today, beginning on September 27th, Instagram users will be able to easily find out specific information about “influential” accounts. To access this information, users need to click on the account profile and then the …menu, and select “About This Account.” Visible information will include the date the company joined Instagram, the country of their location, current ads they are running, former usernames, and accounts with shared followers. Instagram’s goal is to make company accounts more transparent so that consumers can make informed decisions with access to accurate information. People can also more easily spot a malicious company and report them to Instagram’s security team. Facebook, the parent company of Instagram, has also implemented similar tools to enhance security measures.
Per Social Media Today, the information provided by Accounts with Shared Followers, could end up being an “interesting source of competitive research for market understanding.” Companies will be able to see what audience is following a particular company now and then gear their profiles to target that same audience based on their interests.
Another tool that will be available on Instagram is applying for verification. Up until now, Instagram determined which profiles could be verified, but now the application process will be open to all profiles. Of course, applying for verification doesn’t equate to receiving verification, and accounts will still have to meet very specific standards to receive Instagram’s “prestigious blue checkmark.”
I believe that people want transparency online and Instagram is heeding that cry. The more information a person has about an account, the more informed choices they can make. The unfortunate reality is people use social media tools for marketing scams and those companies and people need to be held accountable. Twitter is making that possible by providing as much history about an account as they can. Instagram users will also be able to see if a profile has been verified which provides further peace of mind when conducting business with a company. I also think having the ability to see an account’s shared followers will be an asset when conducting research on your competitor’s accounts and determining what the interests of your audience are.
