Know a friend who only uses the “inkwell” filter on Instagram? They might be depressed.
A new study suggests that Instagram users who favor grays, blues and few faces in their photos are more likely to be depressed.
Researchers analyzed more than 40,000 Instagram photos and found that color distribution was more indicative of depression than any other measure. The sample included 166 users, with 71 having a history of depression.
“Depressed Instagram users in our sample had an outsized preference for filtering out all color from posted photos, and showed an aversion to artificially lightening photos, compared to non-depressed controls,” the researchers wrote. “These results matched well with the literature linking depression and a preference for darker, bluer and monochromatic colors. Depressed users were more likely to post photos with faces, but they tended to post fewer faces per photo.”
The researchers also looked into other factors that could suggest a mental health state such as the number of likes, posts per day, comments and the presence of faces, but none of these proved statistically significant.
People use Instagram in a variety of ways, making these factors not as useful for researchers. Additionally, the researchers acknowledge that while depression is a clinical diagnosis, there are variances in how it manifests in different people.
Their findings are backed up by existing research that shows depressed individuals perceive the world as less vivid and more gray.
The top filters used by depressed individuals were:
- Inkwell
- Crema
- Willow
Inkwell and Willow turn the photos into black-and-white, and Crema turns the photos into a darker, more sepia tone.
The top filters used by healthy individuals were:
- Valencia
- X-Pro II
- Hefe
Conversely, these three accentuate the lighter parts of the photo and hearken back to the original style of Instagram: a Polaroid camera for the 21st century.
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Reach the writer at: daniel.wheaton@sduniontribune.com or @theheroofthyme
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