If you look around you at any given moment, I guarantee you see someone currently scrolling on their smartphone. We live in a society that is focused on social media. From Myspace to Facebook, to Instagram, and Twitter, social media is all around us and is always growing. It is constantly changing and growing, and we are changing and growing with it.
I'll be the first to admit that I am, indeed, an Instagram addict. I post many pictures -- honestly, too many (sometimes I even post two in one day to stay risky). I get caught up in the selection of the perfect filter that somehow makes your teeth look whiter but doesn't make you look too pale (personally, I consider myself a Valencia girl). I also love playing around with the picture editing settings until my Insta looks "on fleek," as the kids say. Clearly, from what I have just told you, you can tell I take my Instagramming seriously. But if you think about it, it is a very serious matter. I mean, how do you expect my followers to get through their day without seeing a perfectly lit picture of my iced coffee?!
When Instagram introduced their new app, Boomerang, I couldn't help but check it out. As many of you probably know, Instagram currently allows you to post photos and videos, but their new feature is something in between. If you download the app, Boomerang, which is a separate app from Instagram, you will see it is a relatively simple app. It allows you to shoot 10 pictures in one instant, and then converts these photos into a one-second video, of sorts, that plays both forward and in reverse. The end product looks like a gif, which is very popular across social media today. Don't fret if you're not an Instagram user, you can share these videos on Facebook, or just save it to your camera roll to share on another media platform.
You may be wondering where exactly is the advantage to this app? It does seem a little silly, but it is a fun way to get creative (and procrastinate school work). You can spill coffee and watch it go back in the cup in reverse. You can make one of you walking forwards and backwards. Or you could be like me and throw stuff across the room and watch it fly back to you (I am currently doing this and it is definitely scaring my roommate).
Not only does this app give users a new way to get creative and have fun, but it also provides something that is more than a photo, but less than a video. Let's be real, we all scroll past videos on Instagram most of the time. Whether we find peoples' Insta videos boring, or we don't have the attention span for it, I don't know. Boomerang offers a cool way to create something short and quick so it won't just be overlooked by your followers.
Overall, if you're looking for something different and fun, or you're just looking to waste time, I would definitely recommend downloading Boomerang and giving it a try for yourself.
