As a reflection by a young millennial on Instagram’s early days goes viral, Millennials are experiencing reminiscence. Samantha Aiello (@notsamaielloHer poignant comments on the development of the photo- and videosharing site, which highlights the contrast between the current state and the simpler beginnings. This TikTok posting, which was viewed by over 756,500 users and garnered 151 100 likes, struck a cord with users of the platform who remember an era before influencer culture and algorithmic feeds.
She explained passionately in her video that she would have celebrated 11 Likes when Instagram first started. That was the point at which it stopped showing names and began showing numbers.
Instagram, since its launch in 2010, The app quickly became the dominant player in social media, changing how visual content is shared and consumed. The app was initially praised for its simplicity, with a simple interface, basic filters, and chronological posts displayed in order of publication.
Instagram has evolved over time. undergone significant transformationsParticularly after it was acquired by Meta (formerly Facebook), in 2012. It has added features such as Stories and Reels. The feeds are now algorithmic. And the platform is a hub of influencer marketing and collaborations. The platform’s user interface and overall dynamic have been fundamentally changed by these changes.
Samantha’s humorous caption for her post emphasized the significance of the seemingly insignificant details, which are important to anyone who has fond memories of the old days.
TikTok resonated with a large audience and triggered a flood comments by users who wanted to share their memories from early Instagram. Many users reminisced on the unique quirks of Instagram and its simpler days.
You can also scroll through the three or four new posts to get back where you were the first time. You had nothing to look at if no one was posting! “Miss those days,” a user said fondly, recalling the novelty of an uncluttered and more carefully curated feed.
Erin exclaimed, “That part that shows you what EVERYONE is liking, was so messy. I need it immediately.
Remember when Instagram first added its Story feature? Another user said, “And it annoyed everyone bc Snapchat was trying to imitate this feature lmaooo.” This recalled the initial disapproval surrounding the launch of the new Story option.
“Remember when there was nothing like doomscrolling?” Another user said, “Used to get to end and catch up,” highlighting how Instagram’s early feed was finite, in stark contrast with today’s endless scrolling.
I remember the days when people would just hang their drink on a post. Keychains. Keychains. “I loved the early Instagram posts with their unfiltered content and terrible filters. We had no idea what were we doing.” said another.
One user said: “I was amazed when I got 100 likes on my first post and thought that I had become a famous person.” This shows the importance of early metrics at a time where social media validation seemed more personal, and not driven so much by algorithms or follower numbers.
A commenter expressed that “back then you used to hard post a joke or tag your friends in the comment section because there was not dming”, pointing out how direct messages are no longer available and that public comments within posts have become more important, as they foster a community feel.