While Instagram is mainly known as a picture-sharing application, some use Instagram for their comedy careers. The term "Instagram Comedian" has been coined to describe these people who use Instagram as a platform to showcase their skits and sketches. All of these videos made by these "comedians" highlight overt and blunt racist stereotypes, including plenty about Latinos.
There are plenty of content creators on the app that showcase these stereotypes, but these two YouTube videos highlight some of the worst.
As a note, both of these video do have explicit and uncensored language/content.
In this video from ex-Viner and YouTuber, Cody Ko, he takes a comedic look at a character named Esteban. Esteban is the creation of Steven Spence, is a hyper sexualized predator. He speaks with a thick accent and always finds new ways to harass women.
This video from another ex-Viner and YouTuber, Kurtis Conner, examines the account TrackaBangBang (Jordan Tracka). Yet, I want to bring attention to one part of the video in particular, the 5:06 section of the video. In this specific clip Conner talks about a skit in which Tracks breaks up with his girlfriend. The video then shows how different women of different backgrounds would react to the situation. This skit not only shows a stereotype about Latinas, but also other women. The Latina character is hyper-sexualized (along with the Black woman). She is also the thumbnail of the video, which is also overtly sexual.
Both of these videos only focus on two men and their characters, but it highlights a larger problem on the app. The vast majority of "Instagram Comedians" follow suit with this type of content solely based off of stereotypes. These stereotypes not only come at the expense of racial groups, but also women. Spence and Tracka are not the only ones on Instagram perpetuating stereotypes in a poorly conceived way. Yet, the most concerning thing about this trend are not videos themselves, but rather how many people follow them and enjoy them.
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