Instawalks

EXPLORATION & KNOWLEDGE SHARING

An Instawalk is an exploratory walk that allows participants to experience a particular part of a city or landscape. People post their pictures on social media immediately after taking them, often on Instagram.

Short summary of the practice

The Instawalk method combines social media with on-foot exploration, allowing participants to document and discuss their local environments. Participants walk specific routes or explore specific neighborhoods, sharing their observations on social media with designated hashtags to spotlight community points of interest or concern.

community transformation, neighbourhood research, neighbourhood, visual communication, digital tool, instawalk

Goal of the practice

Instawalks facilitate the on-site collection and documentation of community insights, promoting an accessible platform for dialogue on local development.

Target group

The target group is all community members who are interested in the future of their surroundings and in using Instagram or social media.

Number of participants: An Instwalk should have a maximum of 20 participants to make it manageable.

Age of participants: Adults and Youth, 13+

Materials

Smartphone with a camera
Internet access
Instagram (or similar social media app)

Method settings

The method can be adapted to any city.

Duration

Maximum half a day including the post-walk workshop.

Preparation

Not much preparation is needed, but facilitators may need to choose the area depending on the topic.

Step by step guide

To implement Instawalk, organizers begin by arranging either a guided stroll or an open exploration session in a targeted area. Participants, while exploring, are guided to capture images relevant to the activity’s theme. They’re then directed to share these photos on Instagram with a designated hashtag. Following the walk, participants gather for a workshop, using their collective photos as a basis for discussions on community development.

You can also check this manual.

Expected output

Instawalks produce a themed array of photos, giving community developers a glimpse into varied resident viewpoints, especially from lesser-heard voices. This rich tapestry of images sheds light on the area’s key concerns, fostering meaningful dialogue that can influence policy decisions.

DOs, DONTs and ethical considerations of the method

DOs of the method:

Add images that you like, even if it’s small things

DONTs of the method:

Avoid badly framed images
Avoid sexual or sensitive content
Avoid posting photos of people without permission or objects containing sensitive information.

Change the method brings to the communities

The Instawalk is an innovative approach to gather community insights and foster dialogue about local development. It leverages social media to extend the reach and longevity of community observations. However, the impacts of Instawalks are contingent on the integration of the collected insights into actual decision-making processes. Without a clear pathway to influence planning decisions, the method risks being a platform for expression without real empowerment. Additionally, the method may face inclusivity challenges, particularly with individuals who do not engage with social media platforms.

Adaptation/Application of the method

The city of Helsinki, in conjunction with a walking advocacy group, utilized the Instawalk method to garner insights about the walkability of the city center. Participants, including city officials and local residents, walked a specified route, interacting with various development project sites to understand and discuss the ongoing transformations. The discussions and images captured were subsequently deliberated upon in a session at the city planning department’s exhibition space. The event facilitated diverse discussions and provided a platform for participants to express their perspectives on city center developments. The images and conversations, documented online with the hashtag #instawalkhelsinki11, created a lasting repository of the community’s observations.

Credit, References, and Resources

Detailed description of the practice on the Hupmobile’s Participatory.Tools project website – https://participatory.tools/tools/instawalk/

Case study (DK) – https://www.digitalyouthwork.eu/?material=instawalk-dk

Different experiences – https://biologista.org/2018/04/27/phaenomenal-my-first-instawalk-experience/ ; https://eurocultureip.eu/2019/ip-student-project/

Collaborative Decision-Making