Slang dossier

Finsta

Pronounced FIN-stuh

A secondary Instagram account, often intended for a smaller audience and more casual posts. “Fake Instagram” does not necessarily mean impersonation, and a finsta is not automatically private.

In a sentence

How it sounds

Illustrative examples

  • “That silly picture is for my finsta.”
  • “I only accept close friends on the second account.”

Where teens use it

The habitat

Conversations about Instagram audiences, close-friend posting and keeping different social circles apart.

Parent briefing

What parents should know

Review the audience settings on the actual account. A private account can still be screenshot or shared, and another account can bypass the settings you checked on the first one. Discuss trust rather than assuming secrecy means wrongdoing.

Keep decoding

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