When Instagram announced its Rings program earlier this month, through which they’ll dignify certain creators with an actual gold ring around their profile photo, the first thought I had was whether it’d function like an extension of the iconic blue check…which once signaled clout and cultural cache. The platform describes Rings as an “award for the creators who don’t just participate in culture - but shift it.” And the honorees were selected by a very famous and accomplished panel of judges, including Spike Lee, Marc Jacobs, and Yara Shahidi, who discussed her involvement and the program’s ethos with Cosmopolitan.
“I’d say that everyone that I proposed [for the award] was pretty interdisciplinary,” she explained, adding that her primary focus was championing diverse picks. It wasn't necessarily me focusing on, like, who is in my traditional discipline. It was more like, ‘I love this person's tone,’ or ‘I love how this person tapped into such a unique voice.”
But will the gold ring distinction serve as an evolution of what a verified check was once implied? Across platforms, that blue check loosely translates to notability and success in the owner’s field. But while the check mark has become somewhat of a clout indicator over the years (less so as the platforms rolled out systems where anybody can secure one for a monthly price), the Rings program doesn’t prioritize follower count and cultural influence. Instead, Yara says, her main intention as a judge was recognizing creators who had “creative clout that isn't always captured by following or shares and re-shares.”
“For the judges, the guidelines were truly: who inspires us creatively? And thinking about who pours into and uses the platform in that creative way. It was very intentional that the verbiage wasn't around, ‘you need X amount of followers or up’ but more relying on who we turn to as regular sources of inspo.”
Today, it’s understood that for people in creative industries, an Instagram profile functions as a portfolio, resume, and a networking platform—which is why the presence of a blue check increases opportunities, and the presence of a gold Ring will probably do that even moreso. Yara took the likelihood of this distinction opening doors for creatives seriously, particularly how a gold Ring could supplement a low follower count for people looking to further themselves.
“As an actor, I have definitely been privy to conversations, even with my X million followers, that if I had more, it would unlock certain funding for projects,” she shared. “There’s quite a transparent conversation about how numbers play a role in the creator economy on every level. That’s what made it feel like there was something of substance that we’re offering people we’re inviting in. I do appreciate the focus on creative clout and capital and who's sitting there just inspiring people through their commitment to their work, their niche, and their unique voice.”
The first 25 recipients of the Rings were announced today, and based on their varied backgrounds, lines of work, and follower counts, it’s clear that the throughline is a commitment to their creative efforts. As Yara noted, “I think this program will continue to promote a very honest conversation about how creativity and these social platforms really should be in constant conversation.” You can meet the newest IG Ring owners below
@akiandkoichi: An IG fashion ‘It Couple’
@ariatinsta: Improv musician and producer
@briancantstopeating: NYC food creator
@cbrickley603: NBA trainer & content creator
@colebennett: Founder of multimedia company Lyrical Lemonade,
@djagonline: London DJ
@dollysingh: Actress and comedy creator
@elyse_myers: Comedy creator
@futuradosmil: Artist
@gabrielomoses: British-Nigerian photographer and filmmaker
@golloria: Beauty creator
@laufey: Singer/songwriter
@linda_lomelino: A photographer and author
@mimles: Makeup artist
@nigelsylvester: A professional BMX athlete
@ninagawamika: Japanese photographer and director
@oliviadeano: An English singer-songwriter
@omgadrian: A film director and content creator
@sebastianjern: Creative director and visual artist
@thehomesteadingrd: A homesteader & registered dietitian
@twinshadban: Twin brothers/fashion influencers
@twolostkids: Creative directors
@tyshawn: Professional skateboarder
@zarnagarg: A stand-up comedian, writer, and creator
