It�s much more than just selfies and sunsets � it�s a platform for artistic expression.

You�ve probably heard of Instagram.

It�s a social-networking phenomenon. What may have once been considered by many as the land of selfies for the young and carefree has become more diversified in its content as the widely popular mobile app has perfected its presence and developed a solid reputation in the world of social media.

 It�s become a platform for artistic expression � through images of people, places, events and situations. Imperfectly perfect slice-of-life images reign on Instagram because they�re spontaneous works of art; an evocative thread of images that tells a story of the user�s multi-faceted life and perspective. On Instagram, words are minimal and photos are high-impact. Blur, black-and-white, filters and frames � these are the words that matter on Instagram. It�s a small glimpse into the user�s intimate world that can lead to better connections, both business and personal.

And the concept of the mobile app fits perfectly into today�s society where everything is about snippets and snapshots � quick, easy, convenient. Videos are only allowed to be 15 seconds long on Instagram, and photo captions only 2,200 characters (but are rarely that long).

According to Instagram�s web page, the app has been the platform-of-choice for such inspiring photographic moments as the first surface image of Pluto and Champions League celebrations, as well as striking locales like the white pools of Turkey and a Namibian desert ghost town. These are just a few of the more than 80 million photos per day shared on Instagram.

The popular photo-sharing app first came onto the social media scene in 2010, but didn�t command center stage until 2012. It was launched and created by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger as a free mobile app. They�re now billionaires.

Instagram is one of the most widely used sites for photo sharing � and it is often mentioned and used by celebrities. This might explain why Instagram has great appeal with younger generations, as 90 percent of its 400 million users are reportedly under the age of 35. Many businesses find themselves creating an Instagram account just to gain access to this often hard-to-reach demographic.

The other great thing about Instagram is that it�s easy and fast. To get started on Instagram, for example, you simply download the free app onto your smartphone (iPhone or Android). Having a smartphone is key, as you cannot fully manage an Instagram account or post images from a computer. Once you download the app, create an account. If you�re already on Twitter or Facebook, try to use a similar username, so it makes it easier for people to find you.

Now, you�re ready to create images, or artsy vignettes of life. Upload them to Instagram by clicking the camera icon on the bottom panel. But before you post your photo, be sure and explore your editing options. Instagram is known for its unique and creative digital filters. Do you want to be mysterious and moody with Brannan, or light and ethereal with Amaro? There is much to ponder when it comes to filter selection. At the bottom of your photo, you�ll see a series of little trees. These are the range of filters that Instagram has to offer. Click through each to see how they alter your photo and then choose the one that looks best with your particular image. Other editing options include adding frames, adding/altering tilt-shift focus (part of your image in focus and the rest blurred), rotating, adding lux (sharpness and contrast), and adding captions.

Once your photo is as you like it, the next step is to add some hashtags. Hashtags help group similar photos together and involve a hashtag symbol (#) placed in front of a word or short series of words (with no spaces). You can create your own hashtag or use others that people have created, just click around and explore. Hashtags make your photos easier to find.

Now it�s time to share your photo with the world � and build your virtual scrapbook. And, with Instagram, that�s easy. Before you publish your photo, Instagram allows you to choose whether you would also like to share it with platforms other than Instagram. You can set it up in your profile to publish to your Facebook (which just so happens to be its parent company), Twitter, Tumblr or Flickr accounts, or even to email yourself a photo each time you publish.

Once you�ve selected where you want to share it, click done. The next step is to seek out businesses and friends to �follow.� If you�re so inclined, you�re welcome to start by following Cooperative Living magazine at www.instagram.com/ cooperativelivingmagazine.