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Vanya Ivan Kazukov

Mindful Social Media: Transforming the Negative Effects of Instagram Stories through Instagram Stories.


Abstract:

Unique approach to addressing the negative impact of Instagram stories on concentration and attention.

By using the images from Instagram stories as a focal point for meditation, and then creating frame-by-frame animations based on those images, has been found a way to increase concentration and attention while interacting with social media.
Nov 2022 — Mar 2023

Introduction:
  1. Krasnova, H., Spiekermann, S., Koroleva, K., & Hildebrand, T. (2010). Online social networks: why we disclose. Journal of Information Technology, 25(2), 109-125.

  2. Goffman, E. (1959). The presentation of self in everyday life. Anchor Books.

  3. Dhir, A., Yossatorn, Y., Kaur, P., & Chen, S. (2018). Online social media fatigue and psychological wellbeing—a study of compulsive use, fear of missing out, fatigue, anxiety and depression. International Journal of Information Management, 40, 141-152.

  4. ︎Photo in Stories by Braulio Amado

Social media platforms like Instagram have been known to have a negative impact on cognitive function, particularly attention and concentration. Previous research has shown that the use of Instagram Stories can lead to increased distraction and a decrease in attention span. 

However, the artist behind this project seeks to challenge this assumption and explore alternative ways to interact with social media.


︎Instagram Stories
are a popular feature that allows users to share images and videos that disappear after 24 hours. While these Stories are a great way to share moments with friends and followers.


Reinhardt et al.
https://zfin.org/ZDB-PUB-190219-7


  1. Boksem, M. A. S., Meijman, T. F., & Lorist, M. M. (2006). Effects of mental fatigue on attention: An ERP study. Cognitive Brain Research, 25(1), 107-116.

  2. Faber, L. G., & Maurits, N. M. (2009). Mental fatigue affects visual selective attention. PloS one, 4(10), e7377.

  3. McMorris, T., Mielcarz, G., & Hale, B. J. (2014). Differential effects of a carbohydrate drink on the performance of cognitive and motor tasks. Appetite, 80, 111-116.

Meditation has been found to be an effective means of enhancing concentration and attention. A study conducted at Harvard University found that participants who meditated for 27 minutes per day for eight weeks showed a significant improvement in attention and concentratio.

Meditation can involve focusing on various things, such as breath, mantra, body, sensations, sound, visualization, or open awareness. Breath meditation involves counting or observing inhales and exhales, and mantra meditation uses a repeated word or phrase to calm the mind. Body scanning is about observing tension and relaxation, while sensation meditation focuses on bodily sensations, and sound meditation involves listening to sounds in the environment or to specific music. Visualization meditation involves imagining peaceful places or specific goals, and open awareness meditation observes thoughts, feelings, and sensations without judgment.



Frame-by-frame animation can be used as a form of meditation, where the goal is to achieve a state of lowered awareness and concentration. In this technique, the mind is not fully engaged in the process, but rather acts as an observer, allowing the artist to create animations without the interference of conscious thoughts. This state of lowered awareness can be meditative in nature, as it helps the artist to focus solely on the animation and not be distracted by other thoughts or stimuli. The artist is able to achieve a certain level of flow, where the creation of each subsequent frame becomes a continuation of the previous one, with minimal distortion. This allows the artist to remain present in the moment and fully engaged in the creation of the animation, resulting in a deeply satisfying and meditative experience.


Luders et al., 2011
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21664467/


Methodology:


*It's important to note that the comparison between the average viewing time of Instagram stories and the artist's viewing time during the experiment may not necessarily lead to a direct comparison of the concentration of attention.

The duration of exposure to the stimulus, in this case, the Instagram stories, may not be the sole determinant of concentration or attention.

Other factors such as the individual's cognitive and psychological factors, the nature of the stimulus, and the individual's environment can also affect concentration and attention.

Therefore, it would be more appropriate to frame the results in terms of the artist's experience and their subjective reports of concentration and attention during the experiment.

The artist engages in meditative practice by creating hand-drawn copies of images sourced from Instagram stories. These images are then transformed into frame-by-frame animation. The artist documents his experience and reflects on the process of engaging with Instagram stories in this way.


  1. Selection of Instagram stories: The artist selected Instagram stories based on their
    ︎aesthetic unattractiveness
    , including stories with reposts and additional links on top of the picture, as well as random photos within these stories.

  2. Meditation: The artist engaged in a meditative practice that involved focusing on the selected Instagram story image and creating a hand-drawn copy of it.

  3. Animation: The
    ︎hand-drawn copies
    of
    ︎instagram stories
    were then transformed into
    ︎frame-by-frame animation
    .

  4. Data collection: The artist documented the entire process through photographs and videos, which were later used for analysis and ︎presentation purposes.

  5. Reflection and analysis: To compare the concentration of attention between the average viewing of Instagram stories and the artist's viewing of stories during this experiment, data was collected on the average duration of each viewing session.


It is important to note that this methodology was developed based on the artist's personal preferences and creative approach. As such, it may not be generalizable to other individuals or contexts.



Results:

The project resulted in the creation of 10 frame-by-frame animations based on Instagram stories. The experiment lasted for a duration of 5 months.

According to industry data, the average duration of an Instagram story viewing is between 5-7 seconds (Instagram, 2023). In contrast, the artist's viewing of stories during this experiment lasted an average of an ︎hour and a half per session.
Based on these data points, it was found that the concentration of attention through interaction with Instagram stories increased by 771.428571* times during the artist's viewing sessions compared to the industry average.


Discussion:


Instagram, K., Stieger, S., & Schmuck, D. (2019). Watching the world through "Instagram-colored glasses": Instagram use, depressive symptoms, and impression formation. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 1297.

The findings of this study suggest that combining animation and meditation can help improve concentration and attention while viewing Instagram Stories. This technique may be useful for individuals who struggle with distraction and reduced attention span while using social media.
Future research should explore the use of this technique with a larger sample size and in different contexts.


Conclusion:


This project also presents a playful and ironic take on the potential charms of social media, as it subvert the idea that Instagram stories necessarily detract from one's ability to focus.

This project highlights the potential of using social media as a tool for mindfulness and meditation. By incorporating Instagram stories as a focal point and utilizing frame-by-frame animation, users can increase their concentration and attention while interacting with social networks. This approach may be particularly useful for individuals who struggle with distractions and find it challenging to focus on a single task. Further research can explore the effectiveness of this technique and its potential applications in other areas of digital media. 






Tags: social media, Instagram, Stories, concentration, attention, meditation, animation, digital art, mindfulness, distraction, attention span, social media use, artistic process, mindfulness practice, digital tools, breath awareness, body awareness, visualization, cognitive improvement, mental well-being, digital media, social media addiction.