Instagram Wellbeing Features

Reimagine Instagram to better support mental wellbeing

Overview

For my MA dissertation at the University of Edinburgh, I designed a set of wellbeing features for Instagram. I compared Instagram with Daylio, a mood-tracking app, to see how each one supports mental wellbeing. Then, I brought what works in Daylio into Instagram's existing interface: a wellbeing filter, mood check-ins you can share with people you trust, and a private journal.

Background

Instagram can be a place to connect, share and support each other. However, it can also lead to comparison, low self-esteem and fear of missing out (FOMO). Most research looks at this from a psychology or algorithm angle. As a UX/UI designer, I wanted to explore and challenge how it can be designed differently to support users with mental difficulties.

Role

User Research

UX/UI Design

Prototyping

10 Weeks

Timeline

Year

2026

  • Instagram decides what people see. Home Feed and Reels are driven by algorithms, and Reels has no natural stopping point.

  • The wellbeing settings that exist are hard to find.

Problem

Solution