Instagram Can Actually Teach You Something

September 19, 2026 - 23:30

My practice of scrolling aimlessly through Insta became school attendance and an appreciation of how enterprising and entertaining people can be.

It started as a bad habit. A few minutes of downtime turned into an hour of thumbing through photos of strangers. But somewhere along the way, the endless feed stopped feeling like a waste of time. It started to feel like a classroom without walls.

There are accounts dedicated to explaining history in short, punchy clips. Others break down complex science topics in under a minute. I have learned how to fix a leaky faucet, how to cook a proper omelet, and why certain bridges stand while others fall. None of it came from a textbook. It came from people who decided to share what they know.

The real lesson, though, is about the people themselves. Instagram reveals how enterprising and entertaining ordinary folks can be. A teenager in a small town builds a following by restoring old furniture. A retired teacher explains grammar with dry humor and perfect timing. A baker turns dough into art and makes you laugh while doing it.

That is not to say the app is flawless. It can waste time, warp expectations, and push pointless drama. But used with a bit of intention, it becomes something else. A place to pick up skills. A place to see how creative people can be when given a camera and an audience.

I did not expect to learn anything when I first opened the app. Now I treat my feed like a lecture hall, a workshop, and a comedy club, all rolled into one.