This week, Instagram added a monumental feature to their app. In addition to being able to add their name and information about them to their bios, users can now add their preferred pronouns as well! This long-awaited feature helps promote inclusivity by normalizing not assuming one’s gender before meeting them and creating a more accepting social media space where cisgender users can be allies to LGBTQIA+ users by defining their pronouns as well.

The pronoun feature is available throughout the U.S., as well as in Canada and the U.K. It allows users on the app (not the website) to select up to four pronouns that they are comfortable with. Users can list a single set of pronouns, such as they/them, or can define multiple in their profiles that they are comfortable with, such as he/him/ze/zir. Users who would like a little more privacy can also turn on a feature that only shows their pronouns to their followers. To add your pronouns, click the “Edit Profile” button on the “View Profile” screen, then select the “Pronouns” tab and add in your pronouns from a selected list, where you can edit or remove them at any time. Here are all the pronouns that Instagram currently has available:

• she/her/hers
• he/him/his
• they/them/theirs
• co/cos
• e/ey/em/eir
• fae/faer
• mer/mers
• ne/nir/nirs
• per/pers
• thon/thons
• ve/ver/vis
• vi/vir
• xe/xem/xyr
• ze/zie/zir/hir

While one’s pronouns might not be on this list yet, as Instagram wants to limit users from inputting inappropriate words that mock the practice of using one’s preferred pronouns, users can submit their pronouns to Instagram for future inclusion in updates to the app’s feature. Instagram wants to keep the list constantly updated in order to be as inclusive as possible to its users. Of course, users should never be pressured to include their pronouns in their bios, but if you feel comfortable, include them in your bios, so that we all can work together to make the Internet community more inclusive and accepting.

Alex Martinez-Garcia, Editor of The Colonel News Magazine

Junior Alex Martinez-Garcia is the co-editor of the 2020-2021 Colonel. When she’s not swimming for LHS or the Westerly YMCA or playing lacrosse, you can probably find her planning events as class president or watching Dance Moms and regretting quitting dance as a child.