More and more people are using social media platforms to share and store their photographs than ever before. But the idea of printing your own photos is currently enjoying a revival. Users of Instagram, in particular, are looking to immortalise their images in print, as well as in the digital realm. So, what inspires Instagram users to print their photos?
1. Retro fix
Trends of the 80s and 90s have been having a revival in terms of culture – think of recent programmes such as Stranger Things and fashions like puffed shoulders and baseball boots. Inevitably, it was only a matter of time before the halcyon days of the pre-millennium would start to influence how we do things in our everyday lives. Not only is the cassette tape coming back to change the way we listen to music, but the way we keep and share photos has changed too. Despite grasping the digital revolution by regularly using one of the top social media platforms, Instagram users are now printed solid copies of their photographs to keep as snapshot mementos.
2. Treasure forever
While it’s beneficial to store all your photos digitally, there’s nothing quite like having photos of special memories to hold in your hands. Furthermore, digital files can be lost, so it’s always a good idea to have hard copies of your most treasured moments. Cyberattacks, misplacing USBs, and accidentally deleting files are just some of the reasons why digital photos can be lost forever and this can be extremely devastating. It’s no surprise, therefore, that Instagram users are starting to make hard copies of their photos as a back-up. Many social media users like to display their printed photos in an album or an Instagram photo book. The latter is a quick way to curate their Instagram feed into one physical item, so that they have a permanent reminder for reminiscing in years to come.
3. Socialise
Believe it or not, printed photographs can bring people together. Those who remember the days before the turn of the millennium will recall the fun gatherings families and friends would have to look through the latest batch of holiday snaps. Nowadays, you’ll likely associate the sharing of photo albums with posting to your social media, where friends and family will look through them alone. However, times are changing. It could be part of the trend for all things retro, or it could be a need for more social interaction following the pandemic, but Instagram users are printing their pictures and making an event of sharing them. Looking through the photos of your latest special occasion with friends and family is not only fun, but it can help trigger memories that you might otherwise have forgotten.
4. Decoration
There’s nothing more homely than having photos of your loved ones in your living environment, and this is why many Instagram users are printing off their images. Hanging pictures on your walls of family, friends, and special moments, means that there are constant reminders around you of the important things in your life. Personal photographs are also nice to decorate your office space with to remind you of home. You can even get them printed and placed into photo books so that you can place them up on bookshelves, desks or tables. They’re a little better than frames because they hold multiple photos and you can flick through them whenever you want.
With a revival for all things retro, it’s perhaps unsurprising that Instagram users have started to print their photos these days. However, there are other reasons which has given rise to this phenomenon. The fear of losing precious digital files, coupled with a need for nostalgia and social interaction have all contributed to why Instagram users are printing their pictures.
Featured Image Credit: Pixabay
