How to Use Instagram — A Senior-Friendly Beginner's Guide

Instagram is one of the most popular apps in the world, and it is not just for young people. Millions of people over 60 use Instagram every day to share photos with family, follow their interests, and see what grandchildren and friends are up to. If you have heard about Instagram but never tried it, or if you downloaded it but felt a bit lost, this guide is for you.

We will explain everything in plain, simple English — from what Instagram actually is to how to post your first photo and keep your account safe.

What Is Instagram?

Instagram is a free app for your phone that lets you share photos and short videos with other people. Think of it as an online photo album where you and your friends can see each other's pictures and leave friendly comments.

Unlike email, where you send photos to one person at a time, Instagram lets you share a photo once and everyone who follows you can see it. You can also follow other people — family members, friends, celebrities, gardening pages, news outlets, cooking accounts — and see their photos in one scrollable feed.

Instagram is owned by Meta, the same company that owns Facebook. In fact, many people use both apps. If you already use Facebook, you will find some features feel familiar.

Creating an Instagram Account

First, you need to download the app. If you are not sure how to download apps safely, have a look at our guide on how to download apps safely.

On iPhone

1. Open the App Store (the blue icon with a white "A")
2. Tap Search at the bottom and type "Instagram"
3. Find Instagram by Meta and tap Get
4. Wait for it to download — the icon will appear on your home screen

On Android

1. Open the Google Play Store (the colourful triangle icon)
2. Tap the search bar and type "Instagram"
3. Find Instagram by Meta and tap Install
4. Wait for the download to finish

Setting Up Your Account

Once the app is installed, open it and follow these steps:

1. Tap "Create New Account" — You will see options to sign up with your email address or phone number. Either one works fine
2. Enter your name — Use your real first name so family and friends can find you
3. Create a password — Choose something strong and memorable. Our guide on creating strong passwords can help
4. Enter your birthday — Instagram requires this, but it will not be shown publicly
5. Choose a username — This is your unique name on Instagram (for example, @margaretsmith60). It cannot have spaces. If the name you want is taken, Instagram will suggest alternatives
6. Confirm your email or phone — Instagram will send a code. Enter it to verify your account

If you already have a Facebook account, you can also tap "Log in with Facebook" to speed things up.

Setting Up Your Profile

Once your account is created, it is a good idea to set up your profile so people know who you are.

1. Tap the person icon in the bottom-right corner to go to your profile
2. Tap Edit Profile
3. Add a profile photo — Tap the circle at the top and choose a clear photo of yourself. This helps family and friends recognise you
4. Write a short bio — This is a brief description that appears under your name. Something simple is fine, like "Retired teacher. Grandma of 4. Love gardening and baking." You have 150 characters
5. Tap Done to save

Understanding the Home Screen

Instagram has five main icons along the bottom of the screen. Here is what each one does:

• House icon (Home) — Your main feed. This is where you see photos and videos from people you follow
• Magnifying glass (Search) — Lets you search for people, places, or topics
• Plus sign (+) — Used to create a new post (share a photo or video)
• Heart icon — Shows your notifications, such as who liked your photos or started following you
• Person icon — Takes you to your own profile

Following People

To see someone's photos, you need to follow them. Here is how:

1. Tap the magnifying glass at the bottom
2. Tap the search bar at the top and type the name of the person or page you want to find
3. Tap on their name when it appears
4. Tap the blue Follow button

Once you follow someone, their photos and videos will appear in your home feed. They will also get a notification that you followed them.

Tip: When you first join, Instagram may suggest people you know based on your phone contacts or Facebook friends. This can be a quick way to find family members.

Your Feed and Stories

The Feed

When you open Instagram and tap the house icon, you will see your feed. This is a scrolling list of photos and videos posted by the people you follow. Simply swipe up with your finger to see more.

Each post shows the person's name and profile photo at the top, the image or video in the middle, and buttons to like, comment, or share at the bottom.

Stories

At the very top of your feed, you will see a row of small circular profile photos. These are Stories. A story is a photo or short video that disappears after 24 hours.

To watch someone's story, simply tap on their circular photo. The story will play automatically. Tap the right side of the screen to skip to the next one, or swipe left to move to the next person's story.

Stories are a casual, everyday way people share what they are doing — a cup of tea, a walk in the park, a funny moment with the dog. You do not need to post stories yourself. Many people just enjoy watching them.

Posting a Photo

This is the heart of Instagram — sharing your own photos. Here is how to post one:

1. Tap the plus sign (+) at the bottom of the screen
2. Instagram will show photos from your phone's camera roll. Tap the one you want to share. If you want to take a new photo, tap the camera icon
3. Tap Next in the top-right corner
4. You will see a screen with filters — we will explain these below. Choose one if you like, or skip this step
5. Tap Next again
6. Write a caption — This is the text that appears below your photo. It can be a short description, a thought, or just a few words. For example, "Beautiful sunset from the garden this evening"
7. Tap Share

Your photo is now posted, and everyone who follows you can see it. If you would like tips on managing photos on your phone, see our guide on how to organise photos on your phone.

Using Filters

Filters are pre-set adjustments that change the look of your photo with a single tap. They can make colours warmer, cooler, brighter, or give a vintage feel.

When you are about to post a photo and reach the editing screen, you will see a row of filter options along the bottom. Each one has a name like "Clarendon," "Gingham," or "Juno." Simply tap each one to see how it looks on your photo.

You do not have to use a filter. Many people post photos without any filter at all. If you do choose one, the original photo on your phone stays unchanged — the filter only applies to the Instagram post.

Writing Good Captions

A caption is the text you write below your photo. There are no strict rules, but here are a few tips:

• Keep it natural — Write the way you would talk to a friend. "Had a lovely afternoon at the botanical gardens" is perfect
• Ask a question — This encourages people to comment. For example, "Has anyone else visited Kew Gardens this spring?"
• You can write as much or as little as you want — One sentence is fine. A full paragraph is fine too
• Use full stops and proper sentences — It makes your captions easier to read

Hashtags Explained Simply

You may have seen words with a hash symbol in front of them, like #gardening or #sunset. These are called hashtags.

A hashtag is like a label. When you add #gardening to your post, anyone searching for that topic can find your photo. Think of it like putting a book in the right section of a library.

You do not need to use hashtags. They are completely optional. But if you want your photos to be seen by more people beyond your followers, adding two or three relevant ones can help. Simply type them at the end of your caption, like this:

"Tomatoes are finally ripening in the garden! #gardening #growyourown #summervegetables"

Liking and Commenting

When you see a photo you enjoy, there are two easy ways to respond:

Liking a Post

Tap the heart icon below the photo. It will turn red, and the person will know you liked it. That is all there is to it. You can "unlike" a photo by tapping the heart again.

Leaving a Comment

Tap the speech bubble icon below the photo. Type your message in the text box that appears and tap Post. Comments are public, so anyone who views the photo can read them.

Keep your comments kind and friendly — just the way you would speak to someone in person.

Watching Instagram Reels

Reels are short, entertaining videos — usually between 15 seconds and 90 seconds long. You will find them mixed into your feed, or you can tap the play button icon (it looks like a small clapperboard) at the bottom of the screen to browse Reels.

Reels cover every topic you can imagine: cooking tips, funny animals, travel, history, gardening, news, and much more. Simply swipe up to see the next one.

You do not need to create Reels yourself. Most people over 60 enjoy just watching them, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Instagram will learn what you like over time and show you more of it.

Direct Messages

Instagram also has a private messaging feature, similar to texting.

1. Tap the paper aeroplane icon in the top-right corner of your home screen (or the speech bubble icon, depending on your version)
2. You will see any messages you have received
3. To send a new message, tap the pencil icon in the top-right corner
4. Search for the person's name, tap on it, and type your message
5. Tap Send

You can send text, photos, and even voice messages. Messages are private — only you and the other person can see them.

Privacy Settings: Private vs Public Account

This is one of the most important things to set up. By default, your Instagram account may be public, which means anyone in the world can see your photos.

If you would prefer that only people you approve can see your posts, you should switch to a private account:

1. Go to your profile (person icon in the bottom right)
2. Tap the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner
3. Tap Settings and privacy
4. Tap Account privacy
5. Toggle on Private account

With a private account, people must send you a follow request, and you get to accept or decline it. Your existing followers will still be able to see your posts.

Our recommendation: If you are new to Instagram, start with a private account. You can always change it later.

Blocking and Reporting

If someone is bothering you or posting inappropriate content, Instagram gives you tools to handle it.

How to Block Someone

1. Go to the person's profile
2. Tap the three dots in the top-right corner
3. Tap Block
4. Confirm by tapping Block again

A blocked person cannot see your profile, posts, or stories. They cannot message you, and they will not be notified that you blocked them.

How to Report a Post or Account

If you see something that feels wrong, harmful, or like a scam:

1. Tap the three dots above the post (or on the person's profile)
2. Tap Report
3. Follow the on-screen steps to tell Instagram what is wrong

Instagram reviews reports and takes action if the content breaks their rules. You can report anonymously — the other person will not know it was you.

Instagram vs Facebook: What Is the Difference?

If you already use Facebook, you might wonder whether you need Instagram too. Here is a simple comparison:

Many people use both. You can even link your accounts so that when you post a photo on Instagram, it automatically appears on Facebook too. If you are interested in Facebook, have a look at our guide on how to use Facebook for beginners.

Staying Safe on Instagram

Online safety is important no matter your age. Here are some practical tips:

• Keep your account private until you are comfortable with how Instagram works
• Never share personal details in your bio or posts, such as your home address, phone number, or daily routine
• Be cautious with direct messages from strangers — scammers sometimes pose as friends or companies. If a message feels suspicious, do not tap on any links
• Do not send money to anyone you have only met on Instagram, no matter how convincing their story sounds
• Use a strong, unique password for your Instagram account
• Turn on two-factor authentication — Go to Settings > Security > Two-factor authentication. This adds an extra layer of protection so even if someone learns your password, they cannot easily log in
• Be careful with quizzes and games that ask you to "tag a friend" or "share your maiden name." These are sometimes used to collect personal information

If something does not feel right, trust your instincts. You can always block or report someone, and you can delete any post or comment you have made.

Quick Reference: Common Instagram Icons

Here is a handy list of icons you will see and what they mean:

• House — Home feed
• Magnifying glass — Search and explore
• Plus (+) — Create a new post
• Heart — Notifications and likes
• Person — Your profile
• Paper aeroplane — Direct messages
• Three dots — More options (block, report, share)
• Bookmark (flag shape) — Save a post to look at later
• Speech bubble — Comments

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Instagram free to use?

Yes, Instagram is completely free to download and use. You do not need to pay anything to create an account, post photos, or follow people. You will see some advertisements mixed into your feed, but you can simply scroll past them.

Can I use Instagram on a computer or tablet?

Yes. You can visit instagram.com in any web browser on your computer or tablet and log in with your account. You can browse your feed, like photos, and leave comments. However, posting new photos is easier from the phone app. Instagram also works well on iPads and Android tablets.

Will people know if I look at their photos?

No. You can browse someone's profile and look at all their photos without them knowing. Instagram does not notify people when someone views their posts. The only way someone knows you saw their content is if you tap the like button or leave a comment. The one exception is Stories — the person who posted a story can see a list of people who watched it.

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Instagram is a wonderful way to stay connected with family, see what friends are up to, and discover new interests through beautiful photos and videos. Take your time getting used to it, and remember — there is no rush. Start by following a few family members, browse at your own pace, and before you know it, you will feel right at home.