Some might assume that the news of Instagram’s Android debut being delayed would disappoint my nerdy, amateur photographer self. They would be wrong.
The social media site and app does seem to fit with my compulsive need to take and share pictures. And I am excluded from joining because I actively refuse to join the cult of Apple. But I am not particularly disappointed by the delay nor am I completely sold on Instagram’s potential for something beyond a photo sharing site.
My first hesitation is about the app and it’s fairly petty and more than a little pretentious. With the ability to filter every picture into an “artistic” shot, I worry about oversaturation and a lack of ability to discern between a truly great picture and a picture that just mimics something truly great. While I support art for the masses, I don’t think all pictures are created equal even if they are created by the same filter. I mean, how many color distorted photos of cups of coffee or someone’s lunch are truly great pictures? Or how many do we really need for that matter?
But my second, and more valid, concern about Instagram is the need of its own social media site. You can upload your Instagram photos to Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest, etc. It’s the redundancy of existing sites that has me concerned. Obviously, for personal use it doesn’t matter as much but for marketing it might. Other social media sites were able to find a unique niche for businesses that elevate them as a branding tool. While businesses are using Instagram and using it well, I am not sure the site itself is a necessity.
I guess I am a little curious for the Android version to be released. But not to join, instead I’m interested to see if my Instagram-apprehension is well-founded or not. Though, I am willing to place bets that in a few months I’ll back track on everything I just said. And then you will be able to enjoy all the vintage looking pictures of coffee cups I can upload.