The Role of Instagram in Developing Students Reading Skills

Abstract

This study explores the role of Instagram as a digital platform for developing students reading skills, particularly among English Literature students. As a widely used social media application, Instagram integrates visual and textual features that expose learners to authentic and engaging English-language content. Using a qualitative research design, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with ten participants selected through purposive sampling. Thematic analysis of the interview transcripts revealed that students frequently access English captions, infographics, casual and educational posts on Instagram as part of their daily routines. The findings indicate that Instagram supports incidental and intentional reading practices and fosters reading comprehension through repeated exposure to short, contextualized texts. Students also expressed positive perceptions of Instagram as a supplementary learning tool that enhances motivation and aligns with their digital habits. Overall, the study concludes that Instagram serves as an effective and accessible medium for improving students’ reading skills and offers valuable insights for educators seeking to integrate technology-based strategies into language learning.