Instagram as different forms of maps

Maps are generally seen as geographic, representations of a location. However, In the case of social networks, there can also be social maps.  On Instagram, the people you follow can and the communities you are involved in can create social maps.

photo retrieved from http://blog.instagram.com/post/29555443184/instagram-30-photo-maps-more-weve-been

“Cyberspace is akin to the Panopticon prison not only in the way that the cyber-flaneur is synonymous with the surveiller, but also in the way that the cyber-flaneur is synonymous with the Panopticon inhabitants." (Barnes, G.) This quote can relate to Instagram’s version of a social map. On Instagram you can select what you post to create a sort of map of your life. The people who follow you may influence what is posted. For example, if you are followed by friends or family, the sense that you are being watched by them may influence what you post (the user is then in the place of the inhabitant). In the same way, you may influence the posts of the people you follow (the user is then in the place of the surveiller).  This also relates to the quote “They(maps) inform and shape how we act in and conceptualize the world.”(Kuttainen, V.)

Literal maps are also present on Instagram, in the form of photo maps which can be seen here. These maps show the posts by different users around the world, and allow a user to view posts by country.

References:

Instagram 3.0 Photo Maps and More, Retrieved August 22 http://blog.instagram.com/post/29555443184/instagram-30-photo-maps-more-weve-been 

Barnes, G. (1997) Otago University. Passage of the Cyber-Flaneur 

Kuittanen, V. (2015) Lecture 4: Maps. Retrieved from https://learnjcu.jcu.edu.au