There is no doubt the popularity of social media only increases as the days go by. Throughout multiple platforms, the same content may circulate, and it could be hard to find the originators. Too often, many Black creators are left without being credited for their trendy/ viral content. Now Instagram has introduced a new feature that will help creators get the proper credit for their work.
Recently Instagram announced their enhanced tags feature which will give creators the recognition for the content they’re responsible for contributing to. Instagram said, “Proper creative credit and recognition is a starting point for discovery, new opportunities, and economic empowerment. For many Black and underrepresented creators, crediting is an entryway to building a sustainable career as a creator, while combating cultural appropriation and ensuring the world knows who is driving culture.”
According to NBC News, the creators behind the enhanced tags are Cameryn Boyd, an engineer at Instagram, Alexis Michelle Adjei, a data analyst at Instagram, and Alexandra Zaoui, a data analyst at Meta. The three of them are Black women and they spoke about the development of the feature and said that “Black creators and addressing that inequity in the creator ecosystem,” was one of the aspects they were looking to address while developing the feature.
They’re hoping that these newest features make it easier for creators to receive credit for their work, from choreographers and creative directors to make-up artists, photographers, and more. Alexandra was inspired especially to ensure producers and sound engineers receive the credit they deserve.
Not only will creators’ Instagram handles be included in the tag, but also their occupation/ contribution to the post.
Cameryn said, “We want to ensure that as Black creators’ content is being distributed as it already is, they are getting the proper attribution so that they have the opportunity to get all of those growth and monetization and career-starting opportunities like their contemporaries are. It’s really critical, as we’re moving towards this new age where creators are so important and creators are really able to use their craft to support themselves in their lives, that Black creators are getting the same opportunity, as they’re already creating the content.”
Alexandra, Alexis & Cameryn found themselves together in February 2021 at Meta’s Black Futures Hackathon with an opportunity to make a real impact. Alexandra, Alexis, and Cameryn were motivated to find a way to make Instagram more equitable for Black creators, given how every day, Black people push culture forward on Instagram.
They made it clear that the purpose is to decrease the problem of uncredited Black content and help the creators get the same recognition as their work.
