ELI5: how does Instagram work

Instagram is like a giant online scrapbook where you share pictures and short videos with your friends, family, and even people you don't know!

Think of it like this:

• Your Profile: This is your personal scrapbook page. You decorate it with a picture of yourself and a little bit about you.
• Photos & Videos (Posts): These are the pictures and short videos you glue into your scrapbook. Maybe it's a picture of your yummy breakfast, your pet, or you playing at the park.
• Following: This is like choosing which of your friends' scrapbooks you want to look at. When they add a new picture, you'll see it!
• Followers: These are the people who want to see your scrapbook. The more interesting your pictures, the more followers you might get!
• The Feed: This is like a table where all your friends' scrapbooks are laid out. You can scroll through it to see what everyone has been up to.
• Likes (Hearts): If you like a picture in someone's scrapbook, you give it a "like" by tapping the heart. It's like saying "Nice picture!"
• Comments: You can also write a little note under a picture. Like saying, "Wow, that breakfast looks delicious!"
• Stories: These are like temporary pictures or videos that disappear after 24 hours. Think of them as quick little updates, like a sticky note on your scrapbook page.
• Hashtags: These are like labels you put on your pictures so other people can find them. If you post a picture of your dog, you might use the hashtag #dogs. Then, anyone searching for #dogs will see your picture!
• Direct Messages (DMs): This is like sending a secret note to one friend instead of posting something for everyone to see.