Don’t get me wrong, Instagram, you’re perfect the way you are. You do you. All that jazz. Which doesn’t mean I wouldn’t like a couple of things to change on Instagram. Or undo some things. I think most of you will agree on a couple of these points.

The algorithm should change on Instagram

I think this is a bit of a classic one. No one likes the algorithm. Apart from the accounts that are pretty big already. The algorithm kind of favors them. Loads of engagement cause more engagement now. Which is hard for an account that just starts out. It’s not impossible to cut through this, but it has become harder.

This tower is known in Antwerp as ‘De Boerentoren’. Which means farmerstower. I always found it funny we call it like that, since it’s a regular office building. Do you have a place/name like that in you city? – Fun fact: it was the first skyscraper of Europe. – #HuaweiMate10Pro – 3.95mm -ƒ1.6 – 1/2500s – ISO 50 – Check out my latest blog post on www.fredericpaulussen.be (or click the link in my bio) – #ig_photooftheday #igshots #peoplescreatives #antwerp #antwerpen #archilovers #architecture #architecturephoto #architectureporn #belgie #visitflanders #Huawei #LeicaCamera #mobilephotography #phonephotography #smartphonephotography #Thevisualcollective #cityscape #exploretheworld #seetheworld #travelblogger #travelingtheworld

A post shared by Photographer & Travel blogger (@fredpaulussen) on Feb 7, 2018 at 1:53am PST

Bring back the chronological timeline

This works together with the algorithm of course, but I look at it as a different request. Right now, all I see it the content that Instagram thinks I like to see. This includes:

• 5 posts by that one person I just started following.
• 6 posts by accounts with massive followings that don’t post original content.
• One post by a friend that I haven’t engaged with since the early days of Instagram.
• 3 sponsored posts that are actually good content, but don’t stand a change without a budget.

I still like these photos, but I find myself just looking at hashtags and locations. My feed is almost dead to me. Which is sad, because I spent so much time curating all the accounts I follow.

You can make me that one new user in your feed to. Follow me on Instagram!

Let me link, please!

As a blogger, I feel I miss so many visitors to my website. I get some because I do the entire “link in my bio” thing. So I can’t really complain. I do think there is more potential. A working url in the photo-caption, for example, would do so much. I can’t be the only one that wants this, right?

It is possible to put a link in your stories when you are verified or reach 10.000 followers. Which is a tough cookie.

I wrote about the Havenhuis in my visit Antwerp blog post earlier this week. I just can’t get over how photogenic it is. While there I wasn’t the only photographer. Most took their photo and left again, but I had a chat with one of them and we had a great talk. – Nikon D850 – 28mm -ƒ11.0 – 1/60s – ISO 2000 – Check out my latest blog post on www.fredericpaulussen.be (or click the link in my bio) – #ig-snapshots #peoplescreatives #antwerp #antwerpen #architecturelovers #architecturephoto #architecturephotography #belgie #nikonphotographers #nikonphotography #cityscape #discoverearth #doyoutravel #exploretheworld #roamtheplanet #travelblog #travelblogger #travelingtheworld #welivetoexplore

A post shared by Photographer & Travel blogger (@fredpaulussen) on Jan 19, 2018 at 3:12am PST

Bring back uniqueness

Enough of the technical wishlist. It’s time to talk about the people on Instagram and their content. I don’t really see how Instagram should tackle this problem. Or even if it’s their job to do so.

When browsing on Instagram I can’t help but notice how we lost our uniqueness in the race to likes and appreciation. And I see this in every genre. Fashion bloggers wear similar outfits because they work. Lifestylers use the same poses. The landscape photographers all visit the same locations.

Don’t get me wrong: I like to see those landscape photos. I just feel some locations are getting too saturated with photographs. Kirkjufell in Iceland is one of those iconic shots. Not only is it unoriginal, it’s also bad for the location. Maybe not a thing to change on Instagram, but in people’s mindset.

Want to learn how to make your photos a bit more unique by editing them? Read my guide to editing your photos on Instagram.

Free the nipple

Instagram actively bans photos that show a nipple. That’s why it’s common for Instagrammers to cover them up with a little dot or line. A lot of professionals have found cool ways to do this self-censorship. I sometimes even enjoy how they did it, as it can be surprising and creative.

Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of photos where the censorship ruins the image. Good images ruined by a little line. And I don’t get it, why have we become so sensitive?

What are the things you would change on Instagram? Or is there something that still misses and you really want to? Let me know in the comments!