The class divide has now reached social media: What is 'low-income Instagram' and what does it say about the future?

What identifies someone as "low-class" on Instagram? Excessive use of filters. A profile lacking a curated aesthetic. Oversharing. Things many people don't even think about before posting.

"The thing is, we all know we're using Instagram to present an idealized version of ourselves, and it starts to feel gauche if you're too obvious about it," linguist and influencer Adam Aleksic (1), known by his handle @etymologynerd, explained in a TikTok (2) post.

The low-income Instagram trend may seem inane and pointless. Still, it says a lot about the new ways classism is emerging as technology develops.

People use these Instagram clues

Some signs that someone is low-income on Instagram are more obvious than others. For example, if a person misspells words or uses incorrect grammar in their bio or captions, people might assume they're poorly educated (3). If they post lower-quality photos, people could think that they can't afford a good camera or even an Instagram theme on sites like Fameswap (4) or Flippa (5).

TikTok user Aileen, known as @aileend11, says she grew up poor and considers her account to be a classic example of a low-income Instagram profile (6).

"My Instagram is not aesthetic," Aileen says. "I could not get a theme for my Instagram. I do post, like, a million highlights. And I also just don't have a good camera (7)."

Aleksic said posting multiple stories filled with relatable memes is another sign that someone isn't upper-class, because wealthier people are generally less relatable (8).

A person may also be viewed as lower-class if they post photos and videos of themselves eating at casual restaurants or engaging in relatively normal or mundane activities. Critics of the trend say this reflects the belief that some users think everyday experiences are special enough to share with followers (9).

'Less is more' separates classes on social media

You've probably heard the sayings "quality over quantity" or "less is more." This concept divides social classes in many ways. Wealthier people, for example, may dine at upscale restaurants that serve small plates of high-quality food. Poorer people may prefer large portions of cheaper food, partly because of a history of food scarcity (10).

Now, that divide is spilling over into social media.

An upper-class Instagram user may pay for a theme to curate their profile. A consistent theme means posts share similar filters and color schemes, creating a polished aesthetic without looking too obvious. Lower-class users, meanwhile, are often accused of overusing filters. Critics say heavy filtering makes profiles look less cohesive and signals that users care too much about what others think.

"Overusing filters comes across as excessive self-presentation, where you're trying too hard to make yourself look better," Aleksic (11) says.

"Oversharing" is another way lower-class posters are perceived as choosing more over less, both the amount of information they share and how often they post. Long, rambling bios are one example. Frequent posting is another.

"If anything, it's become a status symbol to spend time offline now. So even broadcasting that you're participating on the internet is itself a 'lower-class' pursuit," Aleksic explains (12).