In a recent update, Instagram has added a feature that allows you to add your pronouns to your profile in a dedicated space.
Instead of users having to state their pronouns in their bio, Instagram has created a new field alongside the fields for your name, bio, website and username.
16 hours ago, Instagram put out a tweet announcing the update had taken place in a few countries, but will soon be available in more.
How can I set my pronouns on Instagram?
If you’d like to set your pronouns on your profile, it’s a really simple process. Just head over to your main profile page, go to edit profile and here you should spot the new, empty field with the ‘Pronouns’ heading. Click on this field and from here you can set your pronouns accordingly.
You also have the option to set a filter so only people who follow you can see your pronouns and you are able to add up to 4 pronouns on your profile. This feature may help protect individuals who do not wish for their pronouns to be public knowledge or available for people to freely access.
In addition to this, the pronouns field will only accept certain terms, which prevents Instagram users from using the pronouns field as a place to ‘joke’ and use other non-related gender terms in the place of pronouns.
So, why should this matter to me here in Cumbria?
Instagram is a universal tool that many of us engage with and use on a daily basis. Social media is a huge part of our lives and for Instagram to dedicate a space for pronouns, it encourages us to engage with others in a respectful and compassionate manner.
Gender identity, pronouns and social media are all important in Cumbria.
With a population of over 400,000 people, we must recognise that within this population, there are a vast amount of people who will all have different gender identities and pronouns.
Many cisgender individuals have previously chosen to feature their pronouns in their bio as a way of helping to create a safer environment for trans people and gender nonconforming individuals by normalising visible profile pronouns. With the addition of the new pronouns feature, many are hopeful that this will further normalise asking for pronouns and respecting other individual’s pronouns in day-to-day life.
It is important to note that the topic of cisgender individuals stating their pronouns on their social media profiles is often heavily debated. Despite this, the pronouns feature is still of great importance to people globally, which includes people in Cumbria too.
In response to the new update, many have expressed how crucial it is to have popular social media platforms recognise and validate the importance of pronouns as it simultaneously helps to normalise respect for differing gender identities overall.
So, what do you think? Will you be using the new pronouns feature?
We’d love to hear your thoughts, so let us know in the comments below!
Comments