The Kardashians stars aren't hiding their dismay over Instagram's latest changes, and some IG users don't like the differences either. The popular photo-sharing app launched in October 2010, and it was destined to become the most beloved app in the world. From over-filtered images of carefully crafted breakfasts to photoshopped bodies and vacation photos, the platform has seen many eras over the last decade. The longer users remain on the app, the more skilled they become at crafting perfectly curated feeds to impress their followers. If anyone has mastered the art of enhancing their images and lifestyles on Instagram, it's the Kar-Jenner family.
Right now, Kylie Jenner holds the title of "most followed woman on Instagram," and the second most followed user, falling behind Portuguese soccer player, Cristiano Ronaldo. The Kylie Cosmetics founder has over 360 million followers, which is 35 million more than her older sister, Kim Kardashian. While Kim has always been the most popular Kardashian, and the muse behind Keeping Up With the Kardashians, The Kardashians star falls behind five other users as the sixth most followed account. Kylie has been credited many times as the first member of the famous family to utilize Instagram to promote her brand, likely because she's the youngest of her sisters.
While Instagram's popularity has been standing the test of time for a decade, the Kar-Jenners (and many others) are starting to get angry with the platform. The app has always been a photo-sharing platform, first and foremost. From users wanting to share pictures from their day to photographers wanting to promote their art, the app is the go-to for photo content. However, around 2020, the video-sharing app TikTok skyrocketed in popularity, mostly because so many people were bored in quarantine. TikTok offered them free entertainment they weren't getting on Instagram. While Instagram has grown to become a platform for impressing followers, by filtering an imperfect life through a perfect lens, TikTok offers users a place for expression and authenticity. Needless to say, Instagram wants in on TikTok's success, and the Kardashians want their old platform back.
As social media users lean further towards videos over images, Instagram has begun prioritizing reels over photos. Reels are basically TikToks on Instagram, and a lot of the time, people have already seen the videos on TikTok. However, Instagram is promoting them regardless. If they thought the "TikTokification" of their app could evade Kardashian criticism, they were wrong. Kim and Kylie are both angry about the app's switch to pushing video content instead of showing them their friends' posts, and complained on their Instagram stories about it. "Make Instagram Instagram again," the post read, "stop trying to be TikTok, I just want to see cute photos of my friends, sincerely everyone." Fans praised The Kardashians stars, agreeing that the platform needs to stop copying TikTok, and stick to what its users signed up for in the first place.
Instagram execs need to know that the platform's attempt to be the next TikTok isn't going over well with two of IG's most popular users. Kim and Kylie are certainly some of the most influential celebrities on the planet, and if they can't get Instagram to change its ways, no one can. While the app may be trying to evolve with the times, its users are tired of its copycat ways. The Kar-Jenners rely on Instagram as free promo for their show and multiple businesses, and if they don't get it together, The Kardashians stars might find a new way to promote themselves on TikTok. After all, it's the original video-centric app, not the Instagram carbon copy.
Sources: Kim Kardashian/Instagram, Kylie Jenner/Instagram