The official 1X account on X (Twitter) (@1x_com) and the Facebook account introduce photos that have been "Published" or "Awarded" on 1X.com, but the Instagram account does not feature photos from 1X.com at all.

Typically, feature accounts select photos based on specific tags or mentions, and while the 1X and 1X_japan accounts on Instagram describe dedicated tags in their profiles, the photos actually selected often lack these tags or mentions. Additionally, the same photographers’ works are repeatedly featured.

Moreover, many of the featured individuals appear to be people who are not registered on 1X.com or who have already left the platform.

As a user, I think it’s wonderful when more people join and the community grows, as it makes it more enjoyable. However, the Instagram accounts, which seem to operate independently of 1X.com, do not appear to drive traffic to the main 1X.com website.

The Instagram 1X accounts claim to represent 1X, but they seem quite different from 1X.com. They don’t function as typical feature accounts but rather promote influencers’ photos and tag admin accounts🤔

I also notice some photos that make me wonder, "Would this photo actually be curated or published on 1X.com?" appearing frequently.

Furthermore, recent posts often tag the selector's account before the photographer's. When featuring photos, I believe the photographers should be respected and prioritized. However, the way posts are currently written gives the impression that more importance is placed on promoting the selectors. What are your thoughts on this?

I’m also curious to know how other 1X members feel about this issue.

https://www.instagram.com/1x/

https://www.instagram.com/1x_japan/

(Sorry if this is hard to convey as I am using a translation tool.)

I had the same impression. Unfortunately, some of the photos featured on Instagram are ones that I would never think would be published on 1X. I was very disappointed when a friend who is not a 1X member asked me, "Does a photo pass the screening if it has a lot of followers?" I think it is inevitable that featured photos on Instagram are considered published works by general users. Since Instagram uses the phrase "the strictest screening in the world" when posting, I think that the fact that inappropriate photos are featured will affect the brand power of 1X. Also, it is very disappointing that X's featured works are selected from the award works and are treated in the same way. To be honest, I doubt that the Instagram account is really an official account.

Hello.

I too was wondering about the 1x Instagram account.

I feel that the 1x gallery has a lot of artistic photos, but the Instagram one has a lot of cute photos. is it a separate category from 1x.com? 

I completely agree. The reason I feel this way is that the 1X Instagram account predominantly features trend-based photos that seem disconnected from the artistic standards of the 1X gallery. In my view, those images lack genuine artistry. What would people who discover 1X through this account think? Wasn’t 1X once known as the world’s most rigorous online photo gallery?

I will be exhibiting at the 1X Artist Exhibition in Japan this March, but this situation is extremely disappointing, and it has lowered my motivation to continue with 1X.

I was unable to receive any insights from the management side, but can I assume that the official Instagram account is being operated correctly and fairly?

I think I once learned the Instagram posts are picked from contributions seperately.  Like the description of the group say, tag a post #1x and it may become featured in the Insta group. 

So nothing to do with published / awarded on this site.

Regards,

Mike

Mike Kreiten CREW 

I think I once learned the Instagram posts are picked from contributions seperately.  Like the description of the group say, tag a post #1x and it may become featured in the Insta group. 

 

 

So nothing to do with published / awarded on this site.

 

Regards,

Mike

Thank you for your reply, Mike.

I understand the description of the Instagram account and that photos tagged with "#1x" have a chance of being featured.

However, what I am pointing out is that many photos are being featured even without that tag. This inconsistency in how the description aligns with the actual selection process raises concerns for me.

I would like to know whether the management team considers this inconsistent operation appropriate for an account that bears the 1X brand.

Additionally, since messages sent to the Instagram account go unnoticed, I believe it is reasonable to ask here, given that the account operates under the 1X brand.

Hello Aliace,

I really don't know more than I shared. Why does it bother you that much? Typically, Instagram photos are browsed for fractions of a second, I would not care what is visible there. A different audience & purpose in my view. I want my stuff printed, on a wall, for quite a while. That somebody enjoys what I created or captured. Slo the reason I shoot weddings, there I see and feel how much my work matters to people. Whether 15.000 people spent half a second watching my post on Insta... not relevant to me. 

Cheers,

Mike

Hello Mike,

I understand your perspective, and I respect that your focus is on printed works and lasting impact rather than fleeting online attention. That makes a lot of sense.

However, my concern is not about personal visibility but rather about consistency in how the 1X-branded Instagram account is managed. The description states that only photos tagged with "#1x" have a chance of being featured, yet many untagged photos are also selected. This contradiction raises questions about the integrity of the selection process.

Additionally, 1X.com is the original platform, correct? If the Instagram account operates under the 1X brand but follows a completely different approach, it feels inconsistent as an artist affiliated with 1X. At that point, can it even be considered part of 1X anymore? That’s why this situation does not sit well with me.

What makes this even more concerning is that most of the featured photos seem to be chosen based on the ambassadors' preferences or come from large accounts, rather than through a fair and transparent process. On top of that, every feature post includes a tag to the ambassador’s own account. It looks as if they are freely selecting photos they like from untagged posts just to promote themselves. This gives the impression of a self-serving, biased operation rather than a platform-driven curation.

I appreciate your insight on this matter, though, and I respect your approach to photography. But from my perspective, this does not reflect the values that 1X originally stood for.

Best,
Aliace

One more thing I forgot to mention.

There will be the first-ever real gallery exhibition in Japan under the 1X name. My understanding is that the main purpose of this exhibition is to introduce more people to 1X.

However, the Instagram account that claims to be the official 1X account has not made any announcement about it.

Why is that? It’s just a simple question, but I find it quite puzzling.

Hi Mike, I really appreciate all of you at CREW for always running 1X.

I'm not concerned about “what kind of photos will flow on Instagram” there, as you say. I think the question is “what kind of photos will be posted on ‘1X Japan’, one of the official accounts run by 1X”.

Many of my friends have actually asked me this many times. “Is 1X a gallery of influencers?” I can understand why they say it's the toughest in the world; you have to have tens of thousands of followers to be featured. They only know about Instagram; they don't know what kind of organization 1X is. What would they think if they saw the 1X Japan account on Instagram? I can only think of it as a selective that only posts photos of influencers and prioritizes impressions over the quality of the photos. I prefer 1X, which judges well based solely on the quality of the photos. It is inexcusable for that 1X to be considered an “influencer's gallery”.

It should FEATURE from works that have been PUBLISHED like the 1X account on 1X. Otherwise, I think it is degrading to 1X, and by extension to the crew and enthusiasts, to feature photos that are not “published” even if they are posted on 1X just for the sake of buzz.

I love 1X, and I love the way 1X deals with photos without flirting with social networking sites or influencers.

I would like to see 1XJapan rethink its operations.

Sorry for the long post Mike, you have my sincere appreciation and respect.