Your grandkids are posting photos on Instagram. Your nieces and nephews too. Maybe even your own kids.
They talk about “stories” and “reels” and “DMs,” and you have no idea what any of that means. You tried downloading the app once, got confused, and gave up.
Sound familiar?
Instagram isn’t as complicated as it looks. Once someone explains it in plain English, it actually makes a lot of sense. Let me walk you through it.
Instagram is a photo-sharing app. That’s it at its core. People post pictures (and short videos) for their friends and family to see.
Think of it like a digital photo album that updates constantly. Instead of showing someone a photo album when they visit, you post photos and everyone you’re connected with can see them on their phones.
Why Instagram instead of Facebook?
Technically, you can view some Instagram posts without an account. But to really use it — to see what your family is posting and interact with them — yes, you need an account.
The good news: it’s free and only takes a few minutes to set up.
Here’s what to do:
You can sign up with your email address or phone number. You’ll need to:
Tip: Use a simple username. If your name is Mary Johnson, try something like @maryjohnson or @mary.johnson
Instagram will ask to connect to your contacts. You can allow this to find people you know, or skip it and search for people manually.
To find someone:
When you follow someone, their posts show up in your feed.
When you open Instagram, you see your “feed” — a scrolling list of photos and videos from people you follow.
You can:
Just scroll through and see what people are posting. That’s the main use of Instagram.
Instagram has several features that aren’t obvious. Here’s what they mean:
“Stories” are photos or videos that disappear after 24 hours. People use them to share quick moments without permanently adding them to their profile.
You’ll see stories at the top of your feed in circles with people’s profile pictures. Tap a circle to watch their story.
Think of Stories like temporary updates — less formal than regular posts.
Reels are short videos (usually 15-90 seconds). They’re Instagram’s version of TikTok videos. You’ll see a lot of funny videos, recipes, how-to clips, and random entertainment.
You don’t need to post Reels — most people just watch them.
This is Instagram’s private messaging feature. Instead of commenting on someone’s post publicly, you can send them a private message.
Tap the paper airplane icon in the top right to access your messages.
You’ll see words with # in front of them, like #familytime or #grandkids. These are hashtags — they help people find posts about specific topics.
You don’t need to worry about hashtags unless you want people outside your circle to find your posts.
Ready to share something? Here’s how:
That’s it! Your photo is now on Instagram.
What should you post?
Instagram accounts can be:
For most older adults, I recommend starting with a private account. Here’s how to set it:
Now when someone wants to follow you, you have to approve them first. This keeps random strangers from seeing your posts.
Instagram has scammers just like any social media. Here’s what to watch for:
Fake accounts — If someone claiming to be a celebrity or company messages you, it’s usually fake.
“You’ve won something” messages — Scam. Always a scam.
Links in messages from strangers — Don’t click them.
Requests for money or personal information — Never send money or share personal details with people you only know from Instagram.
General rule: If someone you don’t know messages you, you can ignore or delete the message. You won’t hurt their feelings — they’re probably a scammer anyway.
“Do I have to post photos? Can I just look?” Absolutely! Many people use Instagram just to see what others post. You don’t have to post anything yourself.
“Someone followed me. Do I have to follow them back?” Nope. Only follow people you actually want to see posts from.
“I accidentally liked a photo from 3 years ago. Will they know?” Yes, they’ll get a notification. But it’s not a big deal — happens all the time.
“What’s the difference between Instagram and Facebook?” Instagram is owned by Facebook (now called Meta), but Instagram is more photo-focused and less cluttered. Facebook has more text posts, groups, and features.
“Can I use Instagram on my computer?” Yes, you can view Instagram on a computer at instagram.com, but it’s designed for phones. Some features only work on the app.
Here’s the honest answer: because that’s where your family is sharing their lives.
Your grandkids post photos from their everyday lives — the little moments that don’t make it into formal photo albums. School plays, silly faces, new haircuts, weekend activities.
If you’re not on Instagram, you’re missing those moments.
Facebook is still around, but younger people have largely moved to Instagram. If you want to stay connected with the next generation, this is where they are.
If you want someone to sit with you and walk through Instagram step-by-step, that’s exactly what I do.
I serve Hartsville, Florence, Darlington, and the entire Pee Dee region. I’ll come to your home and help you:
No judgment. No rushing. Just patient explanations in plain English.
Call or text: 854-204-7526 Email: [email protected]
$100 flat rate for up to 2 hours of in-home help. Most people are comfortable with Instagram basics within an hour.
Don’t miss out on what your family is sharing. Let me help you get connected.
