Instagram and Politics: A Systematic Literature Review

This chapter presents a systematic review of the literature. Approximately 1,168 articles were identified based on a keyword search in Scopus and Web of Science. More than 80% of these studies were published between 2019 and 2022. Of these, 105 studies were deemed relevant in terms of the topic and the inclusion of original data. More than 60% of the studies focus on elections. Three-quarters of studies focus on political elites, candidates, or political parties. Approximately 27% of studies are based on North America and 39% on Europe, a pattern contrary to other meta-analyses and systematic literature reviews that establish the US as the focal point for research. The large body of research (88%) focuses on digital trace data, particularly examining the number and content of posts as well as user engagement. Many studies include a comparative component, often comparing Instagram to Facebook and/or Twitter/X. This body of research is distinctive from that focused on other platforms, such as TikTok and Reddit. These differences, as well as research gaps, are identified at the end of this chapter.