In our fast-paced world today, social media allows us to connect to others from a variety of backgrounds. Most of us have at least one social media platform that we use on a daily basis. Increasingly, social media has become a part of our identities and the way that we relate to the world. Now, thanks to social media platforms such as Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook, people from different sides of the world can connect with each other and build relationships. 

Social media should be for everyone, not just a select few, and recent studies have shown that Generation Z is working hard to make social media more accessible to everyone. According to the Social Element, making social media more accessible to a wide variety of groups makes social media more inclusive. Social media, like other areas of the world, tends to be a white, male-dominated space, and companies, brands, and influencers should take steps to make social media a space that includes everyone. Since social media is such an important part of the world we live in, it is crucial to include everyone. 

One of the first barriers to inclusivity in social media is the disabilities that people face that may make it difficult for them to use social media. According to a 2018 study performed by Facebook to study their users, more than 30% of people struggle with some sort of disability, such as difficulty seeing, hearing, or speaking. Such disabilities can make it harder to use social media. Fortunately, there are a couple of ways to make social media more inclusive.

One easy way to make social media, and particularly Instagram, more accessible, is to add subtitles to video posts. This simple step means that the content on social media will be more accessible to a wider variety of people. Content creators on visual platforms such as Instagram can also use the add image description feature to make their content more inclusive to individuals with visual impairments. Since social media can also feature content that may be difficult for people to view because of their own personal experiences, it is also important to use caution and include trigger warnings in posts that may be sensitive to viewers. Using caution and thoughtfulness when posting with trigger warnings is important, and promotes inclusivity within social media. These warnings give people the option to either engage with the content or ignore it, which is significant. Most of these tips are simple, but utilizing them can make a world of difference for people who would otherwise have a difficult time being included in the social media world. Increasing inclusivity in social media can be done and is often much easier than we think. A few simple steps can make social media much more accessible, easily available, and ultimately a better, safer place. Anyone can take the time out of their day to do this, and these small actions can have an overall major impact.