Displaying your preferred pronouns on your Instagram profile has become an important way to create a more inclusive and identity-affirming social media experience. With Instagram’s pronoun feature, users can now easily add up to 4 pronouns to their profiles, which is visible publicly or only to their followers.
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Sharing pronouns publicly serves multiple purposes:
- It normalizes stating pronouns and makes it common practice. This creates a culture where people can freely express their gender identity.
- It raises awareness about gender diversity beyond the male/female binary. Many people use gender-neutral pronouns like they/them/theirs.
- It prevents misgendering, which can be emotionally painful for transgender and non-binary individuals.
- It signals that you are an ally to the LGBTQ+ community and care about using correct pronouns.
How to Add Pronouns on Instagram
Adding your preferred pronouns to your Instagram bio is simple:
- Open the Instagram app and go to your profile page.
- Tap Edit Profile.
- Under your name and bio, tap Pronouns.
- Type in up to 4 pronouns from the suggested list (e.g. she/her, he/him, they/them).
- Toggle Show to Followers Only if you don’t want pronouns visible to the public.
- Tap Done to save changes.
Your pronouns should now be visible next to your Instagram username!
Note: You can edit or remove pronouns anytime by tapping Edit Profile again. The pronouns feature is currently only available in certain countries.
Choosing Your Pronouns
When selecting pronouns, choose terms that best reflect your gender identity and how you want others to refer to you. Here are some things to consider:
- Traditional pronouns – he/him/his, she/her/hers, they/them/theirs are the most commonly used.
- Gender-neutral pronouns – they/them/theirs and ze/hir/hirs are popular gender-neutral options.
- Neopronouns – neopronouns like xe/xem are gaining visibility as well.
- Multiple pronouns – you can mix and match pronouns too (e.g. she/they).
- Show followers only – limit visibility if you don’t want pronouns public.
Choose what feels most affirming to you. You can always change them later if needed.
Normalizing Pronouns on Instagram
The more people who share their pronouns on Instagram, the more normal it will become. If you want to encourage others, you can also take these steps:
- Ask people you follow to share their pronouns and lead by example.
- Share an Instagram story explaining why pronouns matter to you.
- Comment with your pronouns when engaging with creators/organizations.
- Suggest pronouns if the option doesn’t exist on a profile.
By prompting others to add and use pronouns respectfully, you can spread awareness on Instagram and beyond.
Conclusion
Displaying preferred pronouns on your Instagram profile makes the platform more inclusive and identity-affirming. To add pronouns, simply update your profile, select pronouns that reflect your gender identity, and choose whether to show pronouns publicly or not. Normalizing pronoun sharing is key to creating social media spaces that are safe and welcoming for people of all gender identities.
