Introduction
In this paper, I explore the concept of Instagram as a panopticon, drawing on the theories of surveillance and power, race and ethnicity, intersectionality, gender, sex, and sexuality (Foucault, 1975). Instagram, a widely used social media platform known for its focus on photo and video sharing, has become a prominent digital space where users voluntarily expose their lives to others. I chose Instagram for my fieldwork due to its pervasive nature and the constant feeling of being under surveillance. Through participant observation and informal interviews, I aim to understand how users’ behaviors are influenced by visibility and disciplinary power on the platform.
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Methods
Conducting fieldwork on Instagram involved spending 30 minutes observing and interacting with various profiles, posts, and stories. I recorded the time at regular intervals and maintained detailed field notes, which included quotes, interactions, and my own observations. As a regular Instagram user, my familiarity with the platform provided insights into the subjective experiences of users and the influence of disciplinary power on their actions.
During my fieldwork, I noticed that users’ interactions and behaviors on Instagram are shaped by the desire for attention and approval. The technologies of surveillance, such as likes, followers, and view counts, play a significant role in motivating users to conform to societal norms and present themselves favorably. This constant visibility leads to self-regulation and a curated self-presentation to avoid judgment and gain social validation.
Findings and Analysis
Visibility: On Instagram, users actively make themselves visible through posting content, sharing stories, and interacting with others. This self-visibility contributes to the creation of a digital identity and influences how they are perceived by their followers and the broader community. However, visibility on Instagram is not limited to individuals; brands, influencers, and celebrities also actively seek visibility through sponsored content, further blurring the lines between personal and commercial aspects of the platform.
Surveillance
Instagram’s surveillance mechanisms, such as likes, comments, and views, enable users to monitor the engagement and reception of their posts. Similarly, passive surveillance occurs when users browse through other profiles, posts, and stories. This constant monitoring can create feelings of validation and social worth but also evoke anxiety and stress due to the fear of judgment and comparison.
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Disciplinary Power
Instagram’s disciplinary power is subtle yet omnipresent. Users are aware that others can observe their activities, leading them to modify their behavior to align with societal norms and the platform’s community guidelines. As a result, certain topics and forms of expression may be avoided to fit within acceptable boundaries, thereby perpetuating the platform’s cultural norms and disciplinary practices.
Intersectional Cultural Analysis
By employing concepts from Module 5 and 6, I further analyze Instagram’s cultural significance through an intersectional lens. The disciplinary power on the platform affects individuals differently based on their race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and other intersecting identities. Users from marginalized groups may experience heightened surveillance and face more scrutiny, resulting in potential erasure of their perspectives and experiences.
Instagram’s algorithmic biases might amplify the voices of dominant groups, leading to the marginalization of minority voices (MUSE speakers, 2022). This illustrates how disciplinary power operates through visibility and invisibility, reinforcing existing power imbalances within society and on the platform itself.
Reflection and Conclusion
Through this assignment, I have gained a deeper understanding of how Instagram functions as a panopticon, influencing user behavior through disciplinary power and surveillance. The experience of conducting fieldwork on the platform allowed me to critically analyze its cultural implications and how it affects people from diverse backgrounds.
In conclusion, disciplinary power’s prevalence on Instagram instills both fear and comfort for its users. While the platform offers a space for self-expression and connection, it also fosters an environment of constant observation and judgment. To further this research, it would be intriguing to compare Instagram with other social media platforms and evaluate their similarities and differences in disciplinary power and surveillance.
In my analysis, I found that Instagram’s surveillance and power dynamics are not uniform across all users. The platform’s design and algorithms might amplify the visibility of certain individuals or content while suppressing others, reinforcing existing social hierarchies. Recognizing these power dynamics and their implications is essential for creating more inclusive and equitable digital spaces.
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References
Foucault, M. (1975). Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison. Vintage Books.
MUSE speakers. (2022). Lecture on Intersectionality. [Class lecture]. Your University’s Name, Department of Sociology.