With over 800 million users, Instagram continues to focus on building a safe community – in India and around the world
As a symbol of its commitment to creating a safe and positive space for the online community in India, Instagram unveiled the #KindComments wall at St+art Mumbai 2017, created in collaboration with emerging street artists Do x Khatra. With the theme of Kind Comments, Instagram is encouraging its communities to think more about how they can contribute to keeping Instagram a kind and positive place for everyone.
The #KindComments wall in Mumbai follows several global product tools, community-focused initiatives, and global programs to help keep Instagram a positive and safe place for self-expression. Commitment to the community continues to be priority for Instagram, especially as more people join the platform – which has grown to 800 million monthly active accounts, with more than 500 million of them using it every day.
The wall was unveiled by guests of honor – Poonam Mahajan, Member of Parliament from Mumbai’s North Central Constituency, President of the Bharatiya Janata Party Yuva Morcha and the President of the Maharashtra Basketball Association; comedian and actor, Mallika Dua along with Tanuja Babre, Programme Coordinator at iCALL Psychosocial Helpline, Tata Institute of Social Sciences who attended the event, in support of the global Instagram #KindComments movement.
The unveiling was followed by an Instameet organized by community advocate Yash Kamini Rane (@chefyash) with 100 Instagram community members from the city of Mumbai, who came together to add live #KindComments, building upon the spirit of positivity the movement aims to inspire.
Designed to inspire positivity in the community
Instagram collaborated with street artist duo with Nikunj Prajapati as Do and Siddharth Gohil as Khatra to bring the spirit of #KindComments alive on the mural. The artists met in art school and have been collaborating since 2013 to create unique art using 3D Graffiti, Imaginative characters and Typography. The duo came together at the festival to create an anamorphic mural of a hand gesture forming the symbol of a heart placed on a graffiti background that is made using different words including kind comments in various languages, emojis and symbols. The composition is designed to create an optical illusion of two hands coming together from different walls and forming a heart gesture, united by kind comments.
Tara Bedi, Public Policy and Community Outreach, Instagram, India - “Even in the online space, community and connections remain a cornerstone of being human – which is why Instagram takes our commitment to building a safe and positive community so seriously. Through the #KindComments movement, and other wellbeing initiatives, we want to make Instagram the kindest and safest space for people to express themselves and connect with other people that share their passions.”
Comedian and actor, Mallika Dua - “We have seen amazing examples of how the local Instagram community has helped drive positive changes – from addressing the stigma of mental health to championing body positivity. Initiatives like #KindComments are so important because they remind people of the importance of positivity and the capacity they have to make a difference. In an age where social media has become a carrier of hate and cyber bullying, Instagram has managed to create and maintain a positive and happy space that thrives on love and creativity as opposed to hate and controversy and #KindComments reiterates that philosophy.”
Poonam Mahajan, Member of Parliament from Mumbai’s North Central Constituency, President of the Bharatiya Janata Party Yuva Morcha and the President of the Maharashtra Basketball Association - “Behaviours online and offline are not mutually exclusive, which is why it is so important to cultivate a culture of positivity online. By understanding and encouraging a more supportive digital environment on platforms like Instagram, we aim to not only make it a safe digital space, but to also make a positive change in people in the real world.”
Tanuja Babre, Programme Coordinator at iCALL Psychosocial Helpline, Tata Institute of Social Sciences - “One of the major factors that determine and contribute to our emotional and mental well-being is day-to-day interactions with our loved ones and community. With technology and social media playing a larger role in how we communicate, it is imperative that pro-active measures be taken by various stakeholders to create a positive digital space. Initiatives like these contribute to fostering positive self-esteem and compassion in emerging adults, which is crucial for a positive self-construct."
In addition to the #KindComments wall in India, Instagram has conducted several other events that allow local Instagrammers to meet in real life, in a safe and positive environment. This includes over 20 local community organized Instagram meet-ups on the recent 16th Worldwide InstaMeet, and #TodayIMet, an Instagram project which helped a group of very diverse Indian teens build empathy for each other through a shared photography experience and inspire creativity in an increasingly visual world; among others.
