Sociology
Social Aesthetics and the Judgment of Taste in Online Photography
Quick fact
A 2020 study found that Instagram photos with certain aesthetic features—like high color saturation and symmetrical composition—consistently receive more likes and comments, regardless of the actual content, revealing that social feedback, not just formal beauty, steers our taste.
Why this is interesting
Scrolling through Instagram, you instantly know an image is 'good'—but have you ever wondered who decided that?