I’ve never been Instagram’s biggest fan. There you go, I’ve said it. To be honest, I haven’t been a fan of social media full stop; it can often feel a bit forced and, well, false. How many of us would actually take a picture of our mid-morning latte if Instagram didn’t exist?
Over the years, I’ve learned that these platforms are what you make them. You have complete agency over what you post, and whilst you don’t have total control over what you see, you can make Instagram aware of what you want to see more (and less) of.
Why should you curate your feed?
What you see on Instagram can affect your happiness levels far more than you may realise. Gearing your feed to show more uplifting, reassuring and empowering content by choosing positive Instagram accounts to follow will help counterbalance any of the more undesirable effects.
Now I appreciate that with over 1.3 billion accounts on Instagram today, it’s a minefield where to start, but have no worries; I’ve created a list of my top 10 favourite happiness spreading accounts. These Instagram accounts produce nothing short of good-energy content; no toxic positivity in sight, I promise. And, bonus news, the more you engage with this type of account, the more Instagram will place similar content into your feed.
Top Tip: Be sure to add any accounts you love to your favourites, keeping them from disappearing from your feed. Simply click the three dots on the top right hand of their post and select ‘Add to favourites’, or, on their account, click the ‘following’ drop-down button and select ‘Add to favourites’.
10 Positive Instagram Accounts to Follow
#01 Action for Happiness
Action for Happiness brings people together and shares practical resources. Their account educates and encourages the adoption of evidence-based skills for happier living. With no political, religious or commercial affiliations, this is a fully inclusive community whose only mission is to spread happiness globally.
#02 The Happy Newspaper
The IG account of the real newspaper celebrates only wonderful, positive news. Expect bright and bold graphics promoting all there is to smile about in the world.
#03 Upworthy
Upworthy is on a mission to deliver stories that highlight the best of humanity every day. Their video content never fails to uplift, but be warned, you may shed a happy tear or two. I’m not crying; you’re crying.
#04 Morgan Harper Nicholls
In 2017, Morgan Harper Nicholls started a project writing personalised letters for strangers as part of a goal to write a million poems to strangers in her lifetime. People submitted their stories to her website, and she would write a brief letter of encouragement to them, paired with visual art. The art is sent to them for free and shared anonymously on social media as well, which is what you will see on her Instagram feed. Inspirational and reassuring, MHN’s Instagram account never fails to soothe the soul.
#05 The Happy Broadcast
Fact-checked anxiety-free content from around the world that is good for our mental health in illustrative form. Their Happier Sundays posts feature ‘a collection of positive news to remind us how awesome we can be when we work together to make the world a better place’.
#06 Brenna Doodles
There are oodles of feel-good graphic accounts, so it was a tough choice to narrow down which ones to put in my top 10 positive accounts to follow on Instagram. Brenna Doodles ultimately won through; hers is the content I share in my stories the most. Adding joy to your feed, I love the way Brenna’s illustrations and messages promote inclusivity and deal with world issues in a hopeful and sensitive manner.
#07 Oh Happy Danni
Oh Happy Danni is the beautifully illustrated account of Danielle Coke, who works to help you do good daily through art and words about faith, hope and justice. She’s fantastic on stories, especially when she goes live and personally, I cannot wait to get to America and shop her stationery range in Target. Trust me; it will happen.
#08 The New Happy
Backed by science, The New Happy seeks to shift society’s current understanding of happiness and inspire changes to enable increased happiness within. With the ethos that we are all here to help each other, their content is well-rooted in well-being philosophies and presented in an easy to digest way. Seeing just one of their posts in your feed has the potential to alter your day for the better.
#09 Good News Movement
Similar to Upworthy, Good News Movement is a journalist-run good news only account with zero politics. Can you have too much positive news on your feed? I don’t think so! Hence why I’m advocating you follow this positive news account too!
#10 Veronica Dearly
Veronica Dearly serves up feel-good content with a decent side of humour; she keeps it honest but encouraging. Her posts are a great reminder not to take ourselves or life too seriously.
So that’s my recommended top 10 positive Instagram accounts to follow. Adding them will help make your Instagram experience much more uplifting.
How about an extra boost of positive content?
I’d love you to check out my Instagram (@livingprettyhappy), where I share daily affirmations and feel-good content; I’m also on a mission to create a positive space online for all.
Want to ‘happy’ your feed even further?
Use these helpful Instagram features for a fabulous feel-good feed:
- Unfollow: there doesn’t need to be a reason why you hit unfollow. If an account is not making you feel better about yourself, unfollow to your heart’s content.
- Mute: We all have that person who we don’t want to unfollow but could do with seeing much less of them online. The mute button here will be your greatest friend.
- Close Friends: When it comes to your content, selecting certain people as close friends wraps a comfort blanket around what you share and who you’re happy to share it with.
And most importantly, let’s remember that social media can be a nicer, more helpful space if we do our part to make it one.
RECOMMENDED: How to Feel Happier When Using Social Media
Source references:
- No More FOMO: Limiting Social Media Decreases Loneliness and Depression: https://guilfordjournals.com/doi/10.1521/jscp.2018.37.10.751
- https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/social-media-and-mental-health.htm
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morgan_Harper_Nichols
What do you think of my top 10 feel-good accounts? Do you follow any of them already? Do you have any of your own positive Instagram accounts to follow? If you do, let me know! Whatever you’d like to say or ask, please do! Just leave me a comment in the box below. I’m happy to help and I always love to hear from you.
Some great accounts Alex and I’ve just followed a few of them via my business account – thanks!
Thanks Lauretta, hope they make you feel good too x