Instagram "basic score"

The word “basic” typically implies that something is mainstream or unexceptional. Common examples include UGG Boots, Pumpkin Spice Lattes, etc. I’d say we’re at a point now where Starbucks more broadly could be considered basic. Some believe basic has a negative connotation, but realistically, something is likely basic because it’s been accepted as good (or at least okay) by a large subset of the population.

This got me thinking about platforms like Instagram. What if there were a way to show when things are extraordinarily basic? I can imagine a “basic score” where an algorithm attributes a score based on past content to quantify how basic something is.

This would put words and a value to something many more pessimistic people are already thinking. The interesting thing is that it would probably also out people who think they are original, when they are merely basic in a different, less mainstream way.

People would likely hate or be offended by this feature, so I doubt it gets built. If it did, it would be very entertaining to watch the responses.

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