Readers say the 10 best Instagram moments of 2014 are…

MANILA, Philippines – It’s been said countless times but it still rings true: the Philippines is the social media capital of the world. Whether on desktop or mobile, Filipinos are constantly clicking away on their favorite social networking platform, sharing and opining about a huge range of local and international topics, from a mundane meme about a cartoon princess and her potatoes, to inciendary footage of real men being beheaded in the desert.

Amid the sea of information shared socially, however, some posts come to the surface more than others, be it because of inscrutable popularity or real-world impact. We asked our readers which of these posts belonged to this category, and we collected the top 10 results per popular social media platform.

Instagram, in particular, is a pretty popular platform locally thanks to our Time Magazine-anointed selfie obsession. And say what you will about the selfie, but there admittedly is a significance to them when the most unexpected personalities, like the world’s most powerful political leaders, take part in the trend, showing a more relatable and accessible side to themselves. Sometimes, both figuratively and literally, it’s really all about the angle.

Below are the top 10 best Instagram moments according to our readers.

10. VSCOcam
A cursory search of #vscocam on Instagram shows a great collection of well-composed photos. The app’s extensive editing options and unique filters makes it this year’s photo editing app of choice. Refusing to back down from the filter party, Instagram recently released a new set of native filters and editing options on the app. 

9. #fitstagram, #fitspiration
Is it just us or did everyone hit the gym this year? From gym selfies, yoga poses, to healthy food options, fitness posts are all over Instagram. Whether it’s to show off your gym gear or those rock hard abs, we’re not complaining as long as it means more people are putting the chips down and getting off the couch.

8. Photoshopped?
Unfortunately however, there are some things that will take too long to achieve in the gym. The next best thing to getting those gams you dream of? Photoshop. Some celebrities have received flak this year for being caught allegedly modifying their Instagram posts to fake narrower waistlines and slimmer thighs. From Beyonce to Victoria’s Secret Angel Miranda Kerr, we guess no one’s immune from wanting a little help from the liquify tool.

7. Taylor Swift
Let’s face it. This is practically Taylor Swift’s year. The 25-year-old made the shift from country music to pop this year and it’s not just her new sound that has everyone raving. The pop superstar teased her much-awaited album 1989 on Instagram that had everyone waiting for the next upload. On top of that, Taylor is also known for reaching out to Swifties on Instagram by reposting photos of her fans or leaving them warm messages on their Instagram posts. What a sweetheart!

6. Disneyland, Anaheim, California
The happiest place on earth is also this year’s most geotagged location on Instagram, climbing from the number 3 spot last year and beating out the Siam Paragon shopping mall in Bangkok, Thailand.

 

5. Weddings and engagements 
2014 was a big year for engagements and weddings, and in the age of Instagram, celebrities took to the platform to share the good news. Here are some of our favorite moments from this year’s happy couples.

4. Kim Kardashian broke the Internet 
We can’t talk about weddings without talking about this year’s most liked Instagram photo. Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s big day is this year’s most-liked photo with over 2.4 million likes and counting.

3. Ice Bucket Challenge
Instagram isn’t just for selfies and Kim Kardashian. This year it also became the place to share awareness and goodwill. The ice bucket challenge made its rounds on Instagram, raising awareness and funds for ALS with everyone from your friends to big celebrities, tipping the bucket for a good cause.

2. #MakeupTransformations
Remember the day we all woke up one day to find makeup transformations all over our feeds? What started out as a display of makeup skills soon turned into a battle of wits as people posted #makeuptransformations that were hilarious to downright outrageous.

1. “Hacienda Binay”
While not necessarily the best example of winning on Instagram, the Vice President’s daughter, Joanna Marie Binay, got her father in hot water over her photos of the controversial Batangas property with the caption “Our place in Batangas.”

A year ago, social media posts of Jeane Napoles also led to raised eyebrows over their lavish lifestyle. Talk about #ThrowbackThursday.

What do you think of these choices? Did we miss anything? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below! – Rappler.com