Instagram unveiled it's new service "Instagram Direct" on Thursday, allowing users to send images to private groups and individuals.
While it's great that the company is expanding into Snapchat-like territory, it's also creating quite the problem for photographers — photo-sharing anxiety.
See also: The Biggest News of 2013 as Told on Instagram
In this comic, Nitrozac and Snaggy of The Joy of Tech explain why there's now just too much hassle and decision-making involved in sharing digital images.
BONUS: Snapchat or Instagram? An Unofficial Guide to Sharing Photos
Your 15 closest friends need to see the drunk streaker outside your apartment. Your mom and 7th-grade teacher do not.
This service is best when you have a great photo that may deserve a more intimate audience, but still deserves to live for longer than 10 seconds -- all without the obnoxiousness of group texts.
If you just tell them that a kid puked in your hair on the train, your friends might be skeptical. Snapchat confirms you're experiencing all of life's weird moments -- without permanently including the evidence in your phone.
Because every girl who dissed you in middle school, every aunt who criticizes your life choices and every ex need to see the cool party you attended.
For that PR guy willing to jump shamelessly through every hoop just to get your attention.
You're obviously not friends on any other photo-sharing platform, so this is your only shot.
Because that girl you're flirting with doesn't want to be one of many others.
This is the most intimate way to share with someone, which often makes it the most likely to cause trouble.
Emailing a photo is tricky. On one hand, it really makes a statement (albeit one that says, "Why are you sending this in an email?")
On the other hand, there's always the chance that it could be mistaken for spam, or slip into the cracks between daily deals.
Good for your grandma, anti-tech friends or anyone with conspicuously bare refrigerators.
Comic illustration provided by The Joy of Tech. Published with permission; all rights reserved.