A methodology for mapping Instagram hashtags

Highfield, T.; Leaver, Tama

doi:10.5210/fm.v20i1.5563

212808_139833_Highfield_Leaver_Methodology.pdf (622.2Kb)

Access Status

Open access

Authors

Highfield, T.

Leaver, Tama

Date

2015

Type

Journal Article

Metadata

Show full item record

Citation

Highfield, T. and Leaver, T. 2015. A methodology for mapping Instagram hashtags. First Monday. 20 (1).

Source Title

First Monday

DOI

10.5210/fm.v20i1.5563

ISSN

1396-0466

School

Department of Internet Studies

Remarks

This article is published under the Open Access publishing model and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ Please refer to the licence to obtain terms for any further reuse or distribution of this work.

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/14814

Collection

Curtin Research Publications

Abstract

While social media research has provided detailed cumulative analyses of selected social media platforms and content, especially Twitter, newer platforms, apps, and visual content have been less extensively studied so far. This paper proposes a methodology for studying Instagram activity, building on established methods for Twitter research by initially examining hashtags, as common structural features to both platforms. In doing so, we outline methodological challenges to studying Instagram, especially in comparison to Twitter. Finally, we address critical questions around ethics and privacy for social media users and researchers alike, setting out key considerations for future social media research.