Instagram and Gentrification

I always wonder if the cyber world has effect on real life issues, let's say, job preference, choice of housing location, etc. This semester I had this interesting research in the relationship of Instagram and gentrification. 

Millennial, like me and my friends of the same generation, get used to arranging our trip on Instagram-popular spots. The trip without Instagram posts is incomplete. Can we say that Instagram tourism is rising? 

Anyway, the emergence of Instagram does give chance to artists and government on collaboration - artists have the incentive to design murals and outdoor sculptures for popularity and profitability on ins, and government are pleased to take it as way of city branding.

When people pour into some place to take hundreds of pictures, they need to sit down somewhere to photoshop them, and that generates business opportunities for cafe and restaurants. Then, more jobs are created for local low-income people, which may be a good idea.

However, the trendy places may attract the young and rich group of people to move in and then raise the local housing price. We won't know if low-income people are pushed out.

Here I made some maps of gentrified census tracts and the Instagrammable spots in LA.

If you have any ideas, or critiques on my work, don't wait to contact me. I'll be super excited to talk about it and take you to the best Boba tea place in Chinatown!

- Sutong