Pop Culture dictionary
Instagram husband
[in-stuh-gram huhz-buhnd]
What does Instagram husband mean?
Ever wonder how your favorite insta influencers look flawless in every photo? Well, it may be thanks, at least in part, to the person behind the camera: their Instagram husband.
An Instagram husband refers to a person who helps a partner manage their Instagram social media channel, especially by taking photos. You may have seen them patiently waiting to drink their oat-milk latte until their partner snaps that perfect pic first.
Where does Instagram husband come from?
The phrase Instagram husband was popularized in a 2012 YouTube video, “Instagram Husband” by the channel Mystery Hour. The video pokes fun at social media influencers.
Jeff Houghton, the comedian who created and starred in the video, says in it: “Behind every cute girl on Instagram is a guy like me,” the Instagram husband. He goes on to document the trials and tribulations that Instagram husbands endure to support their wives or girlfriend’s social media, such as being the first to like and comment on a post, deleting their apps to store all the photos they take, and climbing to outrageous heights to get that perfect angle.
In the 2010s, dozens of articles, and countless more social media posts, were written by Instagram husband sympathizers and enthusiasts. Some take the title very seriously, given the rise of the social media influencer. Influencing is full-time job for some, requiring wardrobes, props, travel, photoshoots, and film/video editing—and often demands a manager, such as an Instagram husband.
One proud instagram husband, Jordan Ramirez, quit his job to support his influencer wife. He even launched The Instagram Husband Podcast in late 2018 about the highs and lows of being an Instagram husband.
Celebrities and public figures such as John Legend, Jay Z, and President Barack Obama have all been dubbed Instagram husbands thanks to their famous, glamorous, and accomplished wives (and their popular Instagram accounts).
Examples of Instagram husband
Who uses Instagram husband?
You don’t have to be male or even in a relationship with the Instagram user to be an Instagram husband, though the term is generally applied in those circumstances. You just have to be “married” to the person’s Instagram account. The phrase can extend to other social media platforms and blogs.
The term is especially used, naturally, by young women online. They may use it to express their desire, earnestly or jokingly, to have an Instagram husband for those sweet, sweet pics and clicks.
How do I teach my boyfriend to be an Instagram husband?
— Gretchen (@gretchenfaye13) January 16, 2019
I asked my husband to be a better instagram husband and like my pics, so his dead ass went through and commented “like” on my pics 🙄😐
— Jenny (@JLG1029) January 16, 2019
currently taking applications for 1) an instagram husband/wife and 2) someone I can pay to edit my instagram photos for me
— ghoulia 👻 (@julia__ghoulia) January 13, 2019
Other times, Instagram husband will be used, often with a sense of self-deprecation or irony, by people who have taken on the role.
Rules in teaching mom to be an Instagram husband.
1) Get the full person in the frame.
2) Get the full whatever monument/view/subject we are photographing in the frame.
3) Person must not block the thing we are photographing.
4) Take a ton of pictures. … https://t.co/s1oUW9Qr8o pic.twitter.com/MWSkas5hhz— Lee-Ann Lipman Gelb (@LeeLipman) January 9, 2019
Being an Instagram husband supporting and influencers career
Sounds fine makes sense
But being in a relationship with an influencer who’s trying to start a singing career sounds nightmarish And Nobody should ever be a part of that— Dick Math🍆👨🏿🏫 (@dances) January 11, 2019
When your girlfriend is 🔥but you still hate your life as an Instagram husband pic.twitter.com/SByGyXw1ni
— Delphine Chui (@delphinechui) April 27, 2017
Sometimes Instagram husbands will proudly own the title—or, like Houghton, complain about what it entails.
My husband takkan jadi instagram husband…he got tired of me hiding my face & telling him to stop whenever he's trying to take my picture.
— Jaja (@SyazaRahizad) September 18, 2017
Getting the atmosphere and getting a good facial complexion and exposure and colour saturation is hard on a phone (pls send help I am an Instagram husband in need of rescue)
— Cheezo (@Cheezo_DRSC) June 11, 2018
While often humorous and even mocking in tone, Instagram husband can also brim with love and affection. Some folks will take the time to thank their sidekick and social media sherpa for all that they do, especially the pictures they take.
Hi there!👋🏻
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With so many new faces around here I thought I'd do a quick #FridayIntroductions.
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I'm Justine and I'm in love with my dentist (who also happens to be my Instagram Husband).💕
We have five little rugrats age eight and under that I homeschool.🖐🏻
I basically grew… pic.twitter.com/U47jGX7RAp— Justine Young (@LittleDove_blog) January 12, 2019
Note
This is not meant to be a formal definition of Instagram husband like most terms we define on Dictionary.com, but is rather an informal word summary that hopefully touches upon the key aspects of the meaning and usage of Instagram husband that will help our users expand their word mastery.