Hooked on Access: Examining the Voice of Accessibility in Instapoetry

Abstract

This paper discusses Instapoetry, one of the newest and most popular forms of social media literature, particularly examining the ways that the genre affords greater access to both readers and writers. While they may disagree on the inherent value of the poetry's minimalist expression, forms, and content, both critics and enthusiasts agree that Instapoetry's colloquial style makes it more "accessible." Yet such accessibility is not necessarily as comprehensive as it may seem on account of issues with platform privacy, the cult of influencerism, and algorithmic restrictions on the Instapoets that average users are exposed to. The paper reflects on the potential consequences of genre homogeneity and insufficient therapeutic accountability in an intimate public, while endeavoring to suggest steps for maintaining access in an environment of excess.