Instagram has been hectic recently with the addition of the “Add Yours” story update. This story sticker allows you to post a prompt with a photo while inviting your friends to add their take on the same prompt. The concept seems like an easy and fun way to interact with others, however, it has developed into one of the most annoying features on the app.
The social evolution of this feature happened extremely quickly which ultimately led to its downfall, as it’s already gone out of style. This feature was a great way to spread memories and moments that otherwise would be forgotten but it has developed into a cluster of unoriginality. The prompts are boring, there’s nothing interesting about an “Add Yours” if the prompt itself has no significance. Everything is repetitive and people are missing the point.
Stories are filled with the same content due to the overuse of the feature. People lack the individuality they once had because of the copy and paste structure that comes with “Add Yours.” It’s turned into a lazy content filler for an easy way out. If you have nothing to post, then don’t post.
Individuality and identity are key factors for communication and social media is one of the ways we communicate with others. However, social media shouldn’t be the place to learn intimate details about the people you follow. It feels impersonal to learn about someone without actually having a conversation with them. These smaller details that build individual identity should be an interactive and bonding experience towards building a relationship, not an Instagram trend.
“Add Yours” has also been used as a reason to push political and social activism. Performative activism has been an issue in the past and it’s resurfacing because of this update. People have created prompts that tell others to add on if they support or believe in the issue being discussed. Using issues like racism, sexism, sexual harassment/assault and so much more. This is immensely problematic as it diminishes the severity and importance of the issue. Advocating for political and social issues is necessary and important to spread awareness; however, it should be done for the purpose of education rather than for popularity and recognition. Adding this social pressure to sensitive topics can make people uncomfortable and forcing them to participate in advocacy with no action is pointless.
Again and again “Add Yours” has proved how useless it truly is. Seeing the same content over and over again is exhausting. The feature creates an emotional detachment from intimate information. On top of it all, performative activism is making its way back as a result. “Add Yours” has created a cycle of pointless information. Despite the potential this feature holds, the people using it have destroyed any hope for evolution or creativity. It has died just as quickly as it became popular.
