[Korean Culture & Language] Instagram

Hello, this is Uptempo Marketers!


Instagram is a popular photo-sharing app that lets people connect with brands, celebrities, thought leaders, friends, family, and more. Instagram allows users to post pictures and videos with fun and creative filters, connect with like-minded people, promote their businesses, and even make money. 

When used to connect with others, it seems to have good mental health benefits. However, unlike Facebook or Twitter, Instagram is a completely visual platform that has been linked to high levels of anxiety, depression, bullying, and a “fear of missing out (FOMO)”. They are even associated with poor sleep patterns and a negative body image of self. According to the Wall Street Journal, 32% of teenage girls ‘felt bad about their bodies, and Instagram made them feel worse.” Sadly, many people who use social media have an intrinsic urge to compare themselves to others.

Dean, a popular South Korean singer-songwriter, has a song titled ‘인스타그램 (Instagram)’ that perfectly illustrates these issues.

The lyrics are as follows:

내일이 올 걸 아는데
I know that tomorrow is coming.

난 핸드폰을 놓지 못해
But I can’t let go of my phone.

잠은 올 생각이 없대 yeah
‘Sleep’ isn’t coming any time soon, yeah

다시 Instagram, Instagram 하네
I’m back on Instagram.

잘 난 사람 많고 많지 oh
There are so many cool people out there.

누군 어디를 놀러 갔다지
Some have traveled to beautiful places.

좋아요는 안 눌렀어
I didn’t click ‘like’,

나만 이런 것 같아서
because I felt like I was the only one who felt this way.

문제야 문제
It’s a problem

온 세상 속에 똑같은 사랑노래가
The same love songs are played all across the world.
와 닿지 못해 나의 밤 속엔
They don’t affect me or my nights.

생각이 너무 많네
I got too many thoughts in my head

복잡해 틈 만나면 바뀌는 게
So complicated that everything changes every time.

관둘래 이 놈의 정보화 시대
I give up. Stupid Information Age.

단단히 잘못 됐어
Something must be wrong.

요즘은 아는게 더 괴로운 것 같은데
I feel like ‘knowing’ only brings pain these days.

나만 이런 건지
Is it just me?


How are social media impacting your life today? 

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