Instagram has recently unveiled the #KindComments wall at Mumbai. With the theme of Kind Comments, Instagram is encouraging its communities to think more about how they can contribute to keeping Instagram a kind and positive place for everyone.
The #KindComments wall in Mumbai follows several global product tools, community-focussed initiatives, and global programmes to help keep Instagram a positive and safe place for self-expression. Commitment to the community continues to be priority for Instagram, especially as more people join the platform, which has grown to 800 million monthly active accounts, with more than 500 million of them using it every day.
Instagram collaborated with street artist duo with Nikunj Prajapati as Do and Siddharth Gohil as Khatra to bring the spirit of #KindComments alive on the mural. The duo came together at the festival to create an anamorphic mural of a hand gesture forming the symbol of a heart placed on a graffiti background that is made using different words including kind comments in various languages, emojis and symbols. The composition is designed to create an optical illusion of two hands coming together from different walls and forming a heart gesture, united by kind comments.
The wall was unveiled by the guests of honour, Poonam Mahajan, Member of Parliament from Mumbai’s North Central Constituency, President of the Bharatiya Janata Party Yuva Morcha and the President of the Maharashtra Basketball Association; comedian and actor Mallika Dua, along with Tanuja Babre, Programme Coordinator at iCALL Psychosocial Helpline, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, who attended the event, in support of the global Instagram #KindComments movement.
Commenting on the new collaboration, Tara Bedi, Public Policy and Community Outreach, Instagram, India, said, “Even in the online space, community and connections remain a cornerstone of being human which is why Instagram takes our commitment to building a safe and positive community so seriously. Through the #KindComments movement, and other wellbeing initiatives, we want to make Instagram the kindest and safest space for people to express themselves and connect with other people that share their passions.”
Also, Comedian and actor Mallika Dua said, “Initiatives like #KindComments are so important because they remind people of the importance of positivity and the capacity they have to make a difference. In an age where social media has become a carrier of hate and cyber-bullying, Instagram has managed to create and maintain a positive and happy space that thrives on love and creativity as opposed to hate and controversy and #KindComments reiterates that philosophy.”
In addition to the #KindComments wall in India, Instagram has conducted several other events that allow local Instagrammers to meet in real life, in a safe and positive environment. This includes over 20 local community organized Instagram meet-ups on the recent 16th Worldwide InstaMeet, and #TodayIMet, an Instagram project which helped a group of very diverse Indian teens build empathy for each other through a shared photography experience and inspire creativity in an increasingly visual world, among others.
