如何玩轉Instagram 美國青少年支招
Let’s face it: Instagram is a game; cutthroat and at times agonizing. Garnering likes and followers is no easy task unless you’re a Kardashian (or have dated one).
我們得承認：Instagram抓拍神器是一個遊戲；它需要你與人PK誰拍的好，有時又讓你苦惱。除非你是卡黛珊(歐版范冰冰)，或是有卡黛珊這樣的女友，否則得到更多的“贊”、擁有更多的粉絲可不是容易事。
But your social media luck is about to change, because I have a social media whiz to help step up your Instagram game.
但是你的社交媒體好運來了——我找了個社交媒體達人教你如何玩轉Instagram。
Who have I enlisted to “achieve Instagram fire,” in her own words? My teenage sister, Grace.
猜我請了誰？用她的話來說，猜我請誰來“點燃Instagram之火”呢？我還未成年的妹妹格蕾絲（Grace）。
Let’s face it: Teenagers are tastemakers. My sister routinely breaks 150 likes on Instagram, no sweat, because she just GETS it. Thankfully she was able to take time out of her busy schedule and break down the science of Instagram for us “old” folk. Here’s what to do and, more important, what not to do on the image-sharing app.
我們得承認：青少年是時尚引領者。格蕾絲在Instagram上經常毫不費力地突破150個“贊”，因爲她掌握了其中的規律。很謝謝她在百忙之中抽出時間，爲我們這些“老”傢伙分步講解如何玩轉Instagram。下面是她講的玩Instagram這款圖像分享應用時的該做什麼，以及不該做什麼的注意事項，後者更重要。
These are the Rules of Instagram:
玩轉Instagram的規則
1. Timing is EVERYTHING.
時機就是一切
Rule No. 1 of Instagram: You can’t post photos willy-nilly. Think of it like sneaking grapes at the grocery store when a clerk isn’t watching: TIMING IS EVERYTHING.
玩轉Instagram的首要規則是：不要隨隨便便曬照片。要知道時機就是一切。想象你在雜貨店，要趁店員不注意的那一刻偷葡萄。道理相同：把握時機。
So when DO you actually post? Sunday evening is “prime time” for likes, according to my sister, because “everyone is bored and not doing homework.” I guess that applies to the real world too!
那麼你什麼時候曬照片最好呢？格蕾絲說，週日晚上是得到“贊”的“黃金時間”，因爲“每個人都很無聊，也沒有作業要做。”我想這個道理在現實生活中也適用！
When not to post? Mornings! The likes are “weird and sporadic.”
什麼時候不要曬照片呢？早上！那些“贊”都很分佈得“很奇怪、很零散”。
2. Also, don’t post too much.
不要發佈太多內容
I don’t care how much you’re feeling your look. No one needs to see eight pictures from your date night out with bae. This isn’t a buffet; we want small, indulgent morsels of your life. Remember, as my sister recommends, “You can’t give the people too much or they will be over it real quick.”
我不在乎你覺得自己的外貌如何。但是沒人想看八張你和另一半約會的照片。這不是自助餐，越多越好；我們只是想一窺你生活中少量片段。記住，像格蕾絲建議的那樣，“你不能給別人太多信息，否則他們會很快略過。”
If you’re posting three to four times a week, my sister says to “reevaluate your life” and “chill a bit.” I see no lies!!!
如果你一週發佈三到四次，那麼你就要（用格蕾絲的話說）“再審視一下你的生活”然後“稍微少發佈點圖片”。我覺得這是實話！！！
3. BUT if it is a big week in your life, feel free to post more than usual.
如果這周有很多值得分享的東西，那就隨性多發佈點吧。
Of course, there’s always the exception to the rule. After all, Instagram was meant to chronicle important moments in your life. The social media gods shouldn’t punish you for having a lot going on! Just remember to take it easy after, my sister said.
當然，規則之外總有特例。畢竟，Instagram的目的是用來記錄生活中的重要點滴。格蕾絲說，社交媒體之神不應該因你有很多需要分享的東西而懲罰你！發佈了就發佈了，不要太在意。
If it’s Rush, or Homecoming, or the holidays, “don’t feel bad for instaing a lot. It happens,” according to my sister. “Just make sure you chill out afterwards and let the people want more.”
如果是的Rush演唱會上，或者校友歡迎會上，或者假日，那就盡情發佈吧，“不要因發佈太多而擔心。這是常有的事，”格蕾絲說，“發佈後你自己再緩和一陣，好讓人們期待更多。”
4. Selfies have STRICT rules.
自拍有嚴格要求
You can’t spell “selfie” without “sel” (minus an “l”), so think of it this way: You’re selling your look. By the simple capitalist laws of supply and demand you need to leave the people wanting more, according to my sister.
你不能寫“自拍”時沒了“自”（去掉了“我”），不妨這樣來思考：你在銷售你的外貌。格蕾絲說，由簡單的資本供需規律可知，你需要讓人們不滿足，想要更多。
Basically, don’t just go around throwing up random selfies like the world is ending tomorrow. It’s not a cute look. Here’s what my sister had to say about selfies:
從根本上來說，不要像明天是世界末日一樣到處隨意發佈自拍。這樣做並不可愛。下面是格蕾絲關於自拍的建議：
a. Be “spontaneous and fun.”
自然而有趣
b. “Not all the time” aka DO THEM SPARINGLY. “If you think you look good in a selfie fine Instagram it but wait a while before you do it again.”
“不要無時無刻”發佈，即“不要無節制”發佈。“如果你覺得自己拍出一張很美的自拍，很好，在Instagram上發佈它，但是在你再次自拍前稍微間隔一點時間會更好。”
c. Selfies are “not to be taken seriously.”
不要把自拍“看得太嚴肅”。
d. “Selfies should only be when you have a GOOD one.”
好的自拍才叫自拍。5. Filters are not for Instagram.
不要用Instagram自帶的濾鏡
Your first instinct when you post an Instagram pic? Probably “What filter should I use?” BUT YOU’RE DEAD WRONG. More wrong than whoever decided Pumpkin Spice Oreos were a good idea.
你用Instagram發佈一張圖片時，你的第一反應是什麼？或許是“我該用什麼濾鏡”。但是你完全錯了。這比南瓜醬奧利奧錯得更離譜。
My sister was adamantly against using Instagram filters, even with the new additions to the app. She said to “NEVER USE KELVIN!!!!!!”and download outside apps that have filters like VSCO and Afterlight instead.
格蕾絲堅決反對使用Instagram的濾鏡，即使是用這個應用的新附加功能。她說，“不要使用KELVIN”。她下載帶濾鏡的其他應用，如VSCO和Afterlight來代替Instagram的濾鏡。
6. Keep your caption game strong.
讓你的配圖文字有力
Think of your Instagram caption as the icing on top of the cake. Yeah, a cake is pretty good in and of itself. But the icing can seal the deal for you! Because, seriously, who wants cake with bad icing? Or an Instagram with a bad caption, for that matter?
將你的配圖文字視爲蛋糕上的糖霜。是的，蛋糕好不好在於本身。但是糖霜能起決定性作用！因爲，嚴格來講，誰會想要一個糖霜不好看的蛋糕？或者一張配文字不好的圖片？
My sister’s advice for your Instagram captions? Don’t tag people in the actual caption (it’s too “messy”) and use emojis to “spice it up.” As for hashtags? You should ONLY be using them ironically!!!
格蕾絲對你的Instagram配圖文字的建議？不要在實際的配圖文字中爲人物貼標籤（那太“亂”），使用表情符號“讓文字豐富多彩”。那話題標籤呢？你必須諷刺性地使用它們！！！
7. TBTs have to ACTUALLY be TBTs. You aren’t fooling anyone if you TBT (Throwback Thursday) a recent photo.
想將以前的照片放上Instagram，那這些照片一定要真的是以前的照片。你不能用一張最近的照片冒充舊照。
“That’s simply not a throwback it’s just a ‘I forgot to insta this but I look cute,’” my sister said.
格蕾絲說：“那不是舊照，只是‘我忘記把這張最近的照片分享在Instagram，但我真的很可愛’。”
Instead, use TBTs for cute baby pics AND awkward middle school photos. “It’s funny,” according to our resident teen.
相反，將舊時可愛的嬰兒照和青澀的中學照片放在Instagram上分享，格蕾絲說：“真的很有意思。”
8. Be ruthless when it comes to following people.
對於粉絲要狠心
Face it: We all want more followers, especially after the Great Instagram Purge of 2014. R.I.P. to the ~100~ or so followers I lost, never to be seen again.
承認吧：我們都想要更多粉絲。所以，失去的粉絲，不要再關注他們了。
“Make sure your ration [followers/following] is ON POINT!!” my sister said. She recommends unfollowing people who don’t follow you back, unless they are celebs.
“保證你有一定量的粉絲！！”格蕾絲說。她建議道，不關注你的人你也別關注他，除非對方是名人。
9. The Kardashians are a great example of what to do — and what NOT to do — on Instagram.
卡戴珊三姐妹是告訴你在Instagram上該做什麼、不該做什麼的好例子
Hate them or love them — or plain old love to hate them — you have to tip the hat to America’s Royal Family, the Kardashians. With millions of followers each, they know a thing or two about Instagram. But they also are prone to bad habits, just like us plebeians! So wise up, and pay attention to how the pros are doing things.
討厭她們或者喜歡她們——或者由超級討厭他們——你不得不承認“美國王室”卡戴珊三姐妹有數百萬粉絲。她們知道如何玩轉Instagram。但他們很容易養成壞習慣，就像我們這些平民百姓一樣！聰明點吧，將注意力放在她們的優點是如何幫她們掙分上。
My sister singled out Kendall and Kylie as celebs who show you need to “slow your roll and don’t post as many selfies as them” but with one caveat:
格蕾絲選出肯德爾（Kendall）和凱莉（Kylie）作爲名人代表，告訴你“放慢你的腳步，不要像她們一樣發佈那麼多自拍”。她補充道：
“If you feel your look, live and post your photo.”
“如果你對你的外貌自信，那就盡情發佈吧。”
SO TRUE!!!
說的真對！
10. Putting your account on private is just plain old weird.
將賬戶設置成私有相當奇怪
My sister says you should set your profile to public because like, you should have nothing to hide.
格蕾絲說，爲了獲得更多“贊”你應該講賬戶設置成公開可見，因爲你沒有什麼值得隱藏的。
Also, it gets you more followers… which is what you’re after, right?
這樣做還能使你得到更多粉絲……這是你所追求的，不是嗎？
11. Use the buddy system!
請好友幫你挑選
You know when you’re trying to decide between two pictures to upload, or maybe are struggling with which filter to apply! As the grand sea witch Ursula said in The Little Mermaid, “Life is full of difficult choices, isn’t it?”
當你在猶豫該上傳哪張照片時，或者糾結用哪種濾鏡時，就像《美人魚》中的海巫厄休拉（Ursula）說的一樣，“生活充滿的選擇，難道不是嗎？”
BUT THE TEENS HAVE A SOLUTION TO YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA CONUNDRUM.
不過這個青少年有辦法解決你的社交媒體難題。
It’s simple. My sister recommends having a buddy to confirm you’re making the right picture/filter choice. And in her words, “an honest friend is key.” (We’re actually each other’s buddy!)
很簡單。格蕾絲建議請你的好友幫你確定選出合適的照片和濾鏡。用她的話來說，“一位忠實的朋友是關鍵。”（我們是彼此的朋友！）
So go out there and find the Robin to your Instagram Batman!
去吧，蝙蝠俠，去找到你的羅賓！
12. And most important, have some fun and don’t take it too seriously. It’s Instagram, after all. In the wise words of our teen, “Life is too short. Eat dessert first.”
最重要的是，不要把它看得太嚴肅，它僅僅是娛樂而已。終究，它只是Instagram。用這個青少年的話來講，“人生太短暫。先吃甜點吧。”
Happy ‘gramming!
希望你用Instagram分享快樂！
Vocabulary
cutthroat: 殘酷的
agonizing: 痛苦的
garner: 獲得
tastemaker: 時尚引導者
willy-nilly: 隨意地
buffet: 自助餐
morsel: 少量
sparingly: 有節制地
adamantly: 固執地
plebeian: 平民百姓
caveat: 告誡
