HUBUNGAN ANTARA PEMENUHAN KEBUTUHAN INFORMASI FOLLOWERS TERHADAP PENGGUNAAN MEDIA SOSIAL INSTAGRAM (Analisis Survey Followers Akun @ilovetrenggalek Pada Anggota Forum Ikatan Mahasiswa Trenggalek)

The widespread use of social media, particularly Instagram, has given rise to various phenomena related to users' information needs. This study focuses on the Instagram account @ilovetrenggalek because it represents a prominent issue regarding the integration of content with the fulfillment of followers' information needs. The objective of this study is to determine whether there is a relationship and the strength of the relationship between the fulfillment of followers' information needs and the use of Instagram through the @ilovetrenggalek account.
The account has approximately 211,000 followers and serves as a local community information platform in Trenggalek Regency, East Java. This study employed a quantitative approach using a survey method based on the Uses and Gratifications Theory. The information needs fulfillment variable (X) was measured using Guha's four indicators: Current Need Approach, Everyday Need Approach, Exhaustive Need Approach, and Catching Up Need Approach. Meanwhile, the Instagram usage variable (Y) was measured using Chris Heuer's 4C concept, consisting of Context, Communication, Collaboration, and Connection.
The study involved 100 respondents who were members of the Trenggalek Student Association Forum (Forum Ikatan Mahasiswa Trenggalek). The data were analyzed using the Spearman Rank Correlation test with SPSS version 25. The results indicated that all research instruments were valid, with Pearson Correlation values exceeding 0.50, and reliable, with Cronbach's Alpha coefficients of 0.939 for variable X and 0.916 for variable Y. The mean score of the information needs fulfillment variable was 310.8, categorized as high, while the mean score of Instagram usage was 314.2, categorized as moderately active.
The Spearman Rank Correlation test produced a correlation coefficient of 0.628 with a significance value of 0.000, which is lower than 0.05. These findings indicate a positive, significant, and strong relationship between the fulfillment of followers' information needs and the use of Instagram through the @ilovetrenggalek account.