Are Teachers in Love with Insta? Here’s What We Learned from Our Survey.

We already know teachers are embracing social media. We also learned that Instagram is the social network preferred by millennials and Gen Z. So, the next logical step was to ask what teachers think of Instagram.

Recently, MDR surveyed teachers about their Instagram use, and more than 1,000 teachers shared their thoughts. The majority of respondents were public school teachers, with the rest teaching at a mix of private, Catholic, charter, and other types of schools. Of these, 45% were elementary school teachers, and 38% teach in suburban metro areas. In addition, 37% had 5 years or less of teaching experience.

Here are our top five findings from the survey.

Finding #1: Teachers are social animals

Teachers are on social media a lot. Facebook is still the favorite, but Instagram has overtaken Pinterest as number 2, with 82% of teachers saying they use Instagram.

Finding #2: Instagram is a daily habit

Teachers check Instagram every single day. Not only that, they’re spending a significant amount of time on the channel. Most respondents said they’re on Instagram for 15-60 minutes per day during the week. On the weekends, time spent on Instagram goes up even higher with 36% of respondents estimating they spend 1 hour or more on it each day. As a rule, people tend to under-report time spent online or on social media, so these numbers could be conservative.

Finding #3: They’re sharing their own content, too

Teachers are not just spectators on the site. Most teachers said they’re posting content at least a few times a month, and nearly 60% report that they post once a week or more.

When it comes to content on Instagram, respondents say they primarily post about themselves or their classrooms. But lesson plans and students themselves get time in the spotlight as well.

Types of content teachers post:

Finding #4: They get inspiration from their peers

When asked if they follow other teachers on Instagram, 90% of respondents said yes. Teachers look to their peers not just for inspiration, but also for product recommendations, printable/downloadable content they can use, and other classroom activities like games or quizzes. Many teachers post on Instagram to share resources they’ve created that they are selling on websites like Teachers Pay Teachers, an online marketplace where teachers buy and sell original educational materials. This allows them to make a little extra money, or in some cases, a lot of extra money, while also supporting other teachers by buying their materials.

 

Finding #5: The Gram has staying power

Teachers were asked to predict their use of social channels in the next two years. Based on their responses, Instagram has a strong future with teachers. Oh, and sorry Facebook.

Teachers have told us in no uncertain terms that Instagram is resonating with them. They’re checking it daily, and spending plenty of time while they are there. They post about themselves personally and professionally, with content about their classrooms, lesson plans, students, and more. Finally, when they were asked to predict their social media use in the future, Instagram rates highest in their plans.

If you’re not already engaging with educators on Instagram, what are you waiting for? It’s time to get started.