The rise and fall of Instadogs

by Aurelie Denieul

Cute dog pictures are among the most popular content that people like on Instagram, but behind them is a dangerous trend

Statista reported in June 2018 that Instagram was counting more than 1 billion users, with an increase of accounts only about dogs, more commonly known as Instadogs. On these accounts, owners will post pictures of their dogs to give an insight into the daily life of their furry friends. These accounts often have millions of followers. Céline Jolibois, owner of Naïga, has 2,600 followers on Instagram. “At the beginning, I just wanted to share our adventures, I did not expect to gain so many followers,“ she says.

Credit to: Unsplash

However, these accounts have led to a rise in dog abandonment, with people adopting a dog just to increase their likes on the social media platform and sometimes abandoning them when the breed stops being popular.

According to a recent report, the most common breeds in British shelters are both the least and most popular ones on Instagram. The least popular breeds end up in shelters when they stop generating likes, whereas the most popular ones end up there because people buy these dogs without realising the commitment of owning one. “Exchanges between fellow Instadog owners are rewarding.

However, Instagram remains a social network where in the end we selectively show what we want others to see, while certain things remain hidden,“ she says. “If you want to adopt a dog, popular or not, never forget that it is a living animal that needs care. We must not forget our dog never asked for any of this. Dogs should not be the victims of a popularity wish.“