National Geographic's 100 million Instagram followers prove that authenticity is still key

National Geographic's global Instagram account, @NatGeo, has surpassed 100 million followers. 

The first brand to ever reach the 100-million-follower mark on Instagram, National Geographic proves that authenticity is still key when it comes to achieving success on social media.

The brand gave its Instagram key to more than 100 trusted photographers, who can post directly on the page. Nature images are paired with captions to tell one-of-a-kind stories, imbuing the feed with a sense of authenticity that has proven to resonate with the community. 

According to Gary Knell, chairman of National Geographic Partners, "National Geographic and photography have gone hand-in-hand since we first published photos in our magazine back in 1889.  We were considered cutting edge then, and through Instagram, we are finding new ways to blaze trails in visual storytelling 130 years later. Driven by our passionate fans and tremendously talented photographers, we are using Instagram to showcase our world through breathtaking images that inspire people to care about the planet. We are grateful and encouraged that 100 million people want National Geographic at their fingertips." 

“National Geographic set the bar long ago for visual storytelling that brings the world closer together. On Instagram, they’ve brought that vision to a whole new generation, and a global community. We’re thrilled to congratulate them on achieving such a remarkable milestone," says Lila King, head of news partnership at Instagram. 

To celebrate this milestone, National Geographic has also launched a 24-hour contest on the @NatGeo Instagram account, encouraging fans to tap into their inner photographer and share their  Nat Geo-inspired photos from their own feeds using #NatGeo100contest. The grand prize winner will receive a National Geographic Tanzania Photo Safari trip valued at over USD 10,000.

Photography and nature buffs could also follow National Geographic Asia's Instagram @NatGeoAsia for stories and visuals dedicated to the region.