Post 7: Diffusion of Innovations

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 Everett Rogers and his famous "Diffusion of Innovations Theory" can be applied to nearly any major technology. The theory gives a representation of how a technology will rise and fall in terms of relevance and popularity over time. A fantastic example of a recent technology that follows this theory is the popular social media app, Instagram. 

Since Instagram was the first easy method of sharing photos with friends and family, it grew in popularity very quickly. The rapid increase in popularity meant that it flew past the early adopters phase relatively quickly. However, first the innovators phase needs to be discussed. This phase is dedicated to the very first contributors to the technology. This includes the founders, early investors, and a small percentage of the first users. This stage is arguably the most important, as a strong foundation is needed to build a successful technology. Instagram gained traction very quickly, as it was a completely new concept that resonated very well with the public. The app had an incredibly strong early adopters and early majority phase due to it growing to over a billion users in 2018. Users kept using the app frequently, due to consistent updates that added interesting new features and easier accessibility. I would argue that Instagram is currently in the late majority phase. This is because nearly everybody has the app, or has at least heard of it. There aren't a whole lot of people who are just finding out about the app for the very first time. However, the app is still incredibly popular for being created in 2010. In the next few years, I believe it will still be a very popular app, but it will slowly creep towards the laggards phase. 

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Some people will not be adopters at all, meaning they will never download and use Instagram. This isn't a bad thing at all, as the app is mainly used for leisure and not productivity. It can usually be a distraction from work and other important activities throughout the day, so keeping it off of your phone isn't a bad idea. On the positive side, it is a great way to keep in touch with friends and to be able to see what they are up to. When a new technology comes out, it is important to weigh the positives and the negatives to ensure the product is valuable enough to you.