Supriya Ghosh (Editor)

Instagram

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Developer(s)
  
Facebook

Development status
  
Active

Instagram Instagram

Original author(s)
  
Initial release
  
October 6, 2010; 6 years ago (2010-10-06)

Stable release
  
Windows 10, Windows 10 Mobile10.766.12447.0 (February 18, 2017; 23 days ago (2017-02-18)) [±]Android10.8.0 (February 14, 2017; 27 days ago (2017-02-14)) [±]iOS10.11 (March 6, 2017; 7 days ago (2017-03-06)) [±], Windows Phone 88.0 (May 15, 2016; 9 months ago (2016-05-15)) [±]

Operating system
  
Windows 10, Windows 10 Mobile;iOS 7.0 or later;Android 2.2 or laterWindows Phone 8

Similar
  
Tiktok , Snapchat , Twitter

Instagram is a mobile photo-sharing application and service that allows users to share pictures and videos either publicly or privately on the service, as well as through a variety of other social networking platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and Flickr. Originally, a distinctive feature was that it confined photos to a square shape, similar to Kodak Instamatic and Polaroid SX-70 images, in contrast to the 4:3 aspect ratio typically used by mobile device cameras. In August 2015, version 7.5 was released for mobile devices, allowing users to upload media captured in any aspect ratio, but not at full Size. Users can also apply various digital filters to their images. In June 2013, Instagram added support for videos, allowing prerecorded square standard definition resolution clips of up to 15 seconds to be shared; later updates introduced support for widescreen resolutions at 360p and longer recording times for either pre-recorded (up to one minute per video, or up to 10 minutes with a multi-video post) or disappearing live videos (up to one hour).

Contents

Instagram was created by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, and was launched in October 2010 as a free mobile app, exclusively for the iOS mobile platform via the Apple App Store, but was later released for Android devices two years later, on April 3, 2012. The service rapidly gained popularity, with over 100 million active users as of April 2012 and over 300 million as of December 2014. Support for the app is available for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Windows 10 devices and Android handsets, while third-party Instagram apps are available for BlackBerry 10 and Nokia-Symbian Devices.

Instagram

The service was acquired by Facebook in April 2012 for approximately US$1 billion in cash and stock. In 2013, Instagram grew by 23%, while Facebook, as the parent company, only grew by 3%.

History

Instagram began development in San Francisco, when Systrom and Brazilian Krieger chose to focus their multi-featured HTML5 check-in project, Burbn, on mobile photography.

As Krieger reasoned, Burbn became too similar to Foursquare, and both realized that it has gone too far. And for that, Burbn pivoted to become more focused. The word Instagram is a portmanteau of instant camera and telegram.

On March 5, 2010, Systrom closed a $500,000 seed funding round with Baseline Ventures and Andreessen Horowitz while working on Burbn. Josh Riedel then joined the company as Community Manager. Shayne Sweeney joined in November 2010 as an engineer and Jessica Zollman was hired as a Community Evangelist in August 2011.

In January 2011, Instagram added hashtags to help users discover both photographs and each other. Instagram encourages users to make tags both specific and relevant, rather than tagging generic words like "photo", to make photographs stand out and to attract like-minded Instagram users. In September, version 2.0 went live in the App Store (iOS) and included new and live filters, instant tilt–shift, high resolution photographs, optional borders, one-click rotation, and an updated icon. On February 2, 2011, an announcement revealed that Instagram had raised $7 million in Series A funding from a variety of investors, including Benchmark Capital, Jack Dorsey, Chris Sacca (through Capital fund), and Adam D'Angelo. The deal valued Instagram at around $25 million.

On April 3, 2012, Instagram was released for Android phones running the 2.2 Froyo version of the OS, and it was downloaded more than one million times in less than one day. That same week, Instagram raised $50 million from venture capitalists for a share of the company; the process valued Instagram at $500 million. Over the next three months, Instagram was rated more than one million times on Google Play and was the fifth app to ever reach one million ratings on Google Play—as of April 2013, it had been rated nearly four million times.

Facebook made an offer to purchase Instagram, along with its 13 employees, for approximately $1 billion in cash and stock in April 2012, with a plan to keep the company independently managed. Britain's Office of Fair Trading approved the deal on August 14, 2012, and on August 22, 2012, the Federal Trade Commission in the U.S. closed its investigation, allowing the deal to proceed. On September 6, 2012, the deal between Instagram and Facebook was officially closed.

On April 12, 2012, Facebook acquired Instagram for approximately $1 billion in cash and stock. The deal, which was made just prior to Facebook's scheduled IPO, cost about a quarter of Facebook's cash-on-hand, according to figures documented at the end of 2011. The deal was for a company characterized as having "lots of buzz but no business model", and the price was contrasted with the $35 million Yahoo! paid for Flickr in 2005, a website that has since become among the 50 most popular in the world.

Mark Zuckerberg noted that Facebook was "committed to building and growing Instagram independently", in contrast to its past practice. According to multiple reports, the deal netted Systrom $400 million based on his ownership stake in the business. The exact purchase price was $300 million in cash and 23 million shares of stock.

On December 17, 2012, Instagram updated its Terms of Service, granting itself the right—starting on January 16, 2013—to sell users' photos to third parties without notification or compensation. The criticism from privacy advocates, consumers, the National Geographic Society, and celebrities like Kim Kardashian prompted Instagram to issue a statement retracting the controversial terms; regardless, the issue resulted in the loss of a portion of Instagram's user-base, as former users switched to other photo-sharing services, which reported an increase in usage.

In January 2013, it was confirmed that Instagram had asked for photo identification as a form of verification due to unspecified violations.

Following Emily White's appointment to the position of chief operating officer in March 2013, she stated in September 2013 that the company should be ready to begin selling advertising by September 2014 as a way to generate business from a popular entity that had not yet created profit for its parent company. In September 2013, Instagram reaffirmed its commitment to free and open access to its smart-phone app for users. During an interview with Women's Wear Daily (WWD), White cited "the sophistication of cameras on smartphones as one reason for ushering in the transformative change", and she used her observation of the replacement of large cameras with mobile smartphones during a fashion show as an example. On October 3, 2013, Instagram announced that it would be adding advertising to its platform.

On October 22, 2013, during the Nokia World event, held at Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Systrom confirmed the impending release of the official Instagram app for the Windows Phone. On November 21, 2013, the official Instagram Beta for Windows Phone was released to Windows Phone 8 to allow Windows Phone users faster access to Instagram services; although, at the Time of release, the app was still under development.

Instagram introduced sponsored post advertising targeting US users in November 2013, and UK users in September 2014.

On December 12, 2013, Instagram added Direct, a feature that allows users to send photos to specific people directly from the app. Instagram's primary intention with the Direct feature is to compete against messaging services, including Snapchat.

On March 11, 2014, Instagram released an updated Android app with performance improvements and a flatter interface. The update was primarily intended to reduce the app's file size and resource usage, and it was optimized for and tested on low-end smartphones sold in emerging markets, such as the Samsung Galaxy Y, which was popular in Brazil at the time.

The company's Global Head of Business and Brand Development—a new position for Instagram—was announced in mid-August 2014. Facebook's former Regional Director James Quarles was assigned the role, which manages Instagram’s revenue strategy, in addition to both the marketing and sales teams. Quarles will report directly to Systrom during a tenure in which he will develop new “monetization products”, as explained by a company representative to the media.

Since the app's launch it had used the Foursquare API to provide named location tagging. In early 2014, after being purchased by Facebook, the company was switched to using Facebook Places.

On October 22, 2015, Instagram launched Boomerang, an app where you shoot a one-second burst of five photos that are turned into a silent video that plays forwards and then reverses in a loop.

During April 2016, Instagram began changing the strictly chronological timeline view to one driven by an algorithm reminiscent of Facebook's.

On May 11, 2016, Instagram updated its app design with thinner icons and a pinker, more abstract logo.

On August 2, 2016, Instagram launched Instagram Stories, a Snapchat-like feature which allows users to take photos, add effects and layers on top of said photos, and add them to said user's Instagram story. Images uploaded to a user's story expire after 24 hours.

In September 2016, Instagram removed the Photo Maps feature from its mobile apps, claiming that the feature was not widely used on the platform.

On October 13, 2016, Instagram launched a desktop client for the first time on the Windows 10 platform, which can be downloaded via the Windows Store.

On November 21, 2016, Instagram launched live video, which allows users to broadcast live on Instagram, for up to one hour. Live videos on Instagram are not preserved, and are removed from the service once a user is done broadcasting. Instagram also launched disappearing photos and videos for the Instagram Direct feature on the same day, and images and videos sent using this method disappear after a certain amount of time.

On February 22, 2017, Instagram released a new feature that enables users to post up to ten pictures or videos in the same post. Users will be able to view other's posts by swiping left to reveal the other photos or videos.

Users

By December 2010, Instagram had one million registered users. In June 2011, Instagram announced it had 5 million users, and it passed 10 million in September of the same year. In April 2012, it was announced that over 30 million accounts were set up on Instagram. In December 2014, Instagram co-founder Kevin Systrom announced that Instagram has 300 million users accessing the site per month.

Instagram announced that 100 million photographs had been uploaded to its service as of July 2011. This total reached 150 million in August 2011. By May 2012, 58 photographs were being uploaded and a new user was being gained each second. The total number of photographs uploaded had exceeded one billion.

There are basic Terms of Use that Instagram users must follow, including an age requirement of 13 years or older, restrictions against posting violent, nude, partially nude, or sexually suggestive photographs and responsibility for one's account and all activity conducted with it.

There are also proprietary rights in content on Instagram. Instagram does not claim any ownership rights in the text, files, images, photographs, video, sounds, musical works, works of authorship, applications, or any other materials (collectively, content) that users post on or through the Instagram Services.

On August 9, 2012, English musician Ellie Goulding came out with a new music video for her song "Anything Could Happen." The video only contained fan submitted Instagram photographs that used various Instagram filters to represent words or lyrics from the song and over 1,200 different photographs were submitted.

On February 27, 2013, Instagram announced 100 million active users, only two-and-a-half years after the launch of the app. As of September 9, 2013, the company has announced a total of more than 150 million monthly active users.

Many celebrities have profiles on Instagram, sharing photos and videos of their personal and professional lives with fans. Some celebrities deleted their accounts in response to Instagram's proposed change to its Terms of Service, which would have allowed the photo-sharing app to sell images to advertisers without compensation to users.

Instagram was listed among Time's 50 Best Android Applications for 2013.

It was proven in a survey completed by 212 Instagram users that social interaction, archiving, self-expression, escapism and peeking are the five main motives of Instagram users.

Instagram now has 600 million monthly active users, a 100 million user jump in the last six months.

Demographics

Instagram's users are divided equally with 50% iPhone owners and 50% Android owners. While Instagram has a neutral gender-bias format, 68% of Instagram users are female while 32% are male. Instagram's geographical use is shown to favor urban areas as 17% of US adults who live in urban areas use instagram while only 11% of adults in suburban and rural areas do so. While Instagram may appear to be one of the most widely used sites for photo sharing, only 7% of daily photo uploads, among the top four photo-sharing platforms, come from Instagram. Instagram has been proven to attract the younger generation with 90% of the 150 million users under the age of 35. From June 2012 to June 2013, Instagram approximately doubled their number of users. As regards income, 15% of US internet users who make less than $30,000 per year use Instagram, while 14% of those making $30,000 to $50,000, and 12% of users who make more than $50,000 per year do so. With respect to the education demographic, respondents with some college education proved to be the most active on Instagram with 23%. Following behind, college graduates consist of 18% and users with a high school diploma or less make up 15%. Among these Instagram users, 24% say they use the app several times a day.

Weekend Hashtag Project

The "Weekend Hashtag Project" is a series featuring designated themes and hashtags chosen by Instagram's Community Team. Followers receive the weekend's project every Friday, and each project encourages participants to post creative photographs according to the designated theme each weekend.

Woman Crush Wednesday

Woman Crush Wednesday is a trend on Instagram that allows users to share pictures of woman that they find appealing or have respect for by using the hashtag #WCW. This event occurs on Wednesday because that is what one of the W’s represents and is wide spread throughout all social media platforms that enable one to post images such as Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Throwback Thursday

Throwback Thursday is a widely used trend on Instagram where users post pictures from the past with the hashtag #TBT. This trend usually includes pictures of users' early childhood, past special occasions, or monumental events. This popular trend started in 2011 shortly after Instagram introduced the capabilities of hashtags on pictures. However, according to Google trends throwback Thursday’s popularity didn’t spike until February 2012. This trend has reached popularity through celebrities such as Kim Kardashian and Molly Sims.

Selfies

Selfie, a self-portrait photograph typically taken with a cell phone or digital camera, has become a trending topic on Instagram becoming the “word of the year” as announced by Oxford English Dictionary in November 2013. Selfies attract a wide range of viewers as seen by the second most-liked picture on instagram from Justin Bieber’s instagram account. Bieber’s selfie with Selena Gomez acquired 1.82 million likes. This trend has sparked interest within the music industry as well with the debut of the song "Selfie" by The Chainsmokers in January 2014.

Finstagram

Finstagram is a portmanteau of the words fake and Instagram. Usually, the account is meant to be a more private depiction of the user. Finstagrams are commonly used by teens as a way to escape the pressures of expectations from their main account.

Features and tools

Users can upload photographs and short videos, follow other users' feeds and geotag images with longitude and latitude coordinates, or the name of a location. Every year, Instagram released Top 10 Instagram geotagged locations in the world, in pictures. Users can connect their Instagram account to other social networking sites, enabling them to share uploaded photos to those sites. As of June 2013, users can connect their Instagram accounts to Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and Flickr.

In 2012, Instagram created web profiles which allows users to use their Instagram account like a social media site. This gave users a web profile featuring a selection of recently shared photographs, biographical information, and other personal details. The web feed is a simpler version of the phone app, mimicking the look and feel users are already accustomed to.

In December 2013, Instagram added a feature named Instagram Direct that allows users to send photos only to a specific user or group of users, rather than having it be viewable by all. This was viewed as a response to the popularity of services like Snapchat.

In August 2015, Instagram allowed users to start using non square images as part of the feature set.

On October 29, 2015, Instagram announced that it would allow advertisers to buy carousel ads to expose company brands to more people.

On May 31, 2016, Instagram announced the launch of new tools for business accounts, including new business profiles, analytics and the ability to turn Instagram posts into ads directly from the Instagram app itself. New business dashboard tools, named Instagram Insights, which includes business profiles and promotion options. Instagram Insights will first roll out in US, Australia and New Zealand then be available in all regions globally by the end of 2016.

On August 18, 2016, Instagram announced to launch a new feature called Instagram Events video channel on its Explore page that uses an algorithm to curate user-generated videos from major events.

Explore tab

The new explore tab was introduced in mid-2012 in which 21 photos are featured when a user clicks the tab second from the left on the bottom bar of the Instagram app. The photos must be of a public user whose profile is not set to private. This section of Instagram is where users can search for specific users or particular hashtags that interest them.

Filters

Instagram offers a number of photographic filters that users can apply to their images:

  • Normal: No filter applied
  • 1977: The increased exposure with a red tint gives the photograph a rosy, brighter, faded look.
  • Amaro: Adds light to an image, with the focus on the centre.
  • Brannan: Increases contrast and exposure and adds a metallic tint.
  • Earlybird: Gives photographs an older look with a sepia tint and warm temperature.
  • Hefe: High contrast and saturation, with a similar effect to Lo-Fi but not quite as dramatic.
  • Hudson: Creates an "icy" illusion with heightened shadows, cool tint and dodged center.
  • Inkwell: Direct shift to black and white – no extra editing.
  • Kelvin: Increases saturation and temperature to give it a radiant "glow".
  • Lo-fi: Enriches color and adds strong shadows through the use of saturation and "warming" the temperature.
  • Mayfair: Applies a warm pink tone, subtle vignetting to brighten the photograph center and a thin black border
  • Nashville: Warms the temperature, lowers contrast and increases exposure to give a light "pink" tint – making it feel "nostalgic".
  • Rise: Adds a "glow" to the image, with softer lighting of the subject.
  • Sierra: Gives a faded, softer look.
  • Sutro: Burns photo edges, increases highlights and shadows dramatically with a focus on purple and brown colors.
  • Toaster: Ages the image by "burning" the centre and adds a dramatic vignette.
  • Valencia: Fades the image by increasing exposure and warming the colors, to give it an antique feel
  • Walden: Increases exposure and adds a yellow tint.
  • Willow: A monochromatic filter with subtle purple tones and a translucent white border.
  • X-Pro II: Increases color vibrancy with a golden tint, high contrast and slight vignette added to the edges.
  • Slumber: Desaturates the image as well as adds haze for a retro, dreamy look – with an emphasis on blacks and blues.
  • Cream: Adds a creamy look that both warms and cools the image.
  • Ludwig: A slight hint of desaturation that also enhances light.
  • Aden: This filter gives a blue/green natural look.
  • Perpetua: Adding a pastel look, this filter is ideal for portraits.
  • Clarendon
  • Gingham
  • Moon
  • Lark
  • Reyes
  • Juno
  • Stinson
  • In December 2014, Slumber, Crema, Ludwig, Aden, and Perpetua were five new filters to be added to the Instagram filter family.

    Lux

    Another feature, the Lux effect, allows you to quickly adjust the exposure and contrast through a simple 100-point slider. This editing tool allows you to control the brightness to the saturation levels of each photograph.

    Video

    Initially a purely photo-sharing service, Instagram incorporated video sharing in June 2013. The addition was seen by some in the technology media as Facebook's attempt at competing with then-popular video-sharing applications such as Mobli and Vine, both which would later announce plans to shut down, although Vine will continue with limited functionality.

    During its launch in June 2013, videos were limited to 15 seconds maximum and a 640x640 fixed resolution. Support for widescreen video at 360p is available since August 2015. In March 2016, Instagram increased the 15-second video limit to 60 seconds. Multi-video posts were introduced in February 2017, allowing up to 10 minutes of video to be shared in one post.

    Instagram Stories

    On August 2, 2016, Instagram launched a new feature called Instagram Stories. Instagram Stories allows users to share photos and videos, which disappear after 24 hours and don’t appear on the user's profile grid or in their feed.

    Instagram later added Live Video to Instagram Stories, allowing users to create and share disappearing live streaming videos of up to one hour. In January 2017, Instagram announced that Instagram Stories had reached 150M users, and launched skippable ads.

    Instagram Direct

    On December 12, 2013 at the press event in New York, Instagram founder Kevin Systrom announced the introduction of private photo and video sharing feature called Instagram Direct. In September 2015, Instagram Direct received a major update, adding new features such as instant messaging, adding more than one user & sharing more than one photos in a single conversation, and sharing post & profiles from feeds directly to the user.

    Terms of use

    On December 17, 2012, Instagram announced a change to its terms of use, stating that "you agree that a business or other entity may pay us to display your username, likeness, photos (along with any associated metadata), and/or actions you take, in connection with paid or sponsored content or promotions, without any compensation to you".

    There was no apparent option for users to opt out of the changed terms of use without deleting their accounts, and the move garnered severe criticism from privacy advocates as well as consumers. After one day, Instagram apologized saying that it would remove the controversial language from its terms of use. Kevin Systrom, a co-founder of Instagram, responded to the controversy, stating:

    Our intention in updating the terms was to communicate that we'd like to experiment with innovative advertising that feels appropriate on Instagram. Instead it was interpreted by many that we were going to sell your photos to others without any compensation. This is not true and it is our mistake that this language is confusing. To be clear: it is not our intention to sell your photos. We are working on updated language in the terms to make sure this is clear.

    The December 2012 change to the Instagram terms of use also introduced an arbitration clause, which remained even after the language pertaining to advertising and user content had been modified.

    Illicit drugs

    The company acted quickly in response to a 2013 investigation from the BBC regarding the role of Instagram in sales of illicit drugs. The BBC discovered that users, mostly located in the US, were posting images of drugs they were selling and then completing transactions via instant messaging applications such as WhatsApp Messenger. Corresponding hashtags have been blocked as part of the company's response and a spokesperson engaged with the BBC, explaining:

    Instagram has a clear set of rules about what is and isn't allowed on the site. We encourage people who come across illegal or inappropriate content to report it to us using the built-in reporting tools next to every photo, video or comment, so we can take action. People can't buy things on Instagram, we are simply a place where people share photos and videos.

    Allegations of censorship

    In October 2013, Instagram deleted the account of Canadian photographer Petra Collins after Collins posted a photo of herself in which pubic hair was visible beneath her bikini bottom, Collins claims the account deletion was unfounded because it did not break any of Instagram's terms and conditions.

    In January 2015, in a similar incident to Collins's, Instagram deleted Australian Photography and Fashion Agency Sticks and Stones Agency's Instagram account because of a photograph including pubic hair sticking out of bikini bottoms.

    Instagram has also been criticized for censoring women's bodies, but not men's, particularly through the Free the Nipple Campaign.

    Hidden pornography

    In March 2016, The Daily Star reported 'one million' explicit porn films found on Instagram. The videos were unearthed by tech blogger Jed Ismael, who says he's discovered over one million porn films on the site.

    Timeline algorithm

    In April 2016, Instagram began rolling out a change to the order of photos visible in a user's timeline, shifting from a strictly chronological order to one determined by an algorithm. Instagram said the algorithm was designed so that users would see more of the photos by users that they liked, but there was considerable negative feedback. Instagram had responded a month earlier to users upset at the prospect of the change, but did not back down, nor provide a way to turn it off.

    Application icon

    On May 11, 2016, Instagram updated to 8.0, changing the interface theme to a whiter theme, along with the app icon to a theme similar to one as an option for Microsoft PowerPoint. This generated negative feedback from many people.

    Facebook owned

  • Boomerang is an app that allows users to shoot a short video that loops back and forth infinitely. Users can post directly to Instagram or Facebook from the app, or share through email or texting.
  • Carousel, for Macs, is an app that provides a live feed of Instagram on the Mac.
  • Hyperlapse is an app that allows users to create digitally stabilized time-lapse videos.
  • Third party

  • 100 Cameras in 1 is an app available for iPhone users that provides additional effects for photos uploaded to Instagram.
  • 6tag is an official alternate client Instagram for Windows Phone developed by Rudy Huyn. Often the app is considered better than the official, it has constant updates.
  • iGrann is an unofficial alternate Instagram client for BlackBerry 10 developed by Adrian Sacchi.
  • Inst10 is an unofficial alternate Instagram client for BlackBerry 10 developed by Nemory Studios.
  • Iconosquare is a free app that provides personal statistics related to Instagram, including number of followers, likes, and comments, along with usage statistics.
  • Instamap is an app available for iPad that allows users of Instagram to find photos based on their location or a hashtag. Results can be displayed in a gallery or linked to a map.
  • Printing – Instaprint offers a device which can be rented for social gatherings that allows users to print photographs on Instagram. Printsgram allows a user's Instagram collection to be printed as a poster or stickers. Printic is an app which allows users to print and share Instagram pictures from an iPhone. Pictures come in a vintage 3×4 inches (7.62×10.16 cm) format, with an orange envelope and a message for the recipient.
  • Awards

    Instagram was the runner-up for "Best Mobile App" at the 2010 TechCrunch Crunchies in January 2011. In May 2011, Fast Company listed CEO Kevin Systrom at number 66 in the "The 100 Most Creative People in Business in 2011". In June 2011, Inc. included co-founders Systrom and Krieger in its 2011 "30 Under 30" list.

    Instagram won "Best Locally Made App" in the SF Weekly Web Awards in September 2011. 7x7Magazine's September 2011 issue featured Systrom and Krieger on the cover of their “The Hot 20 2011” issue. In December 2011, Apple Inc. named Instagram the "App of the Year" for 2011. In 2015, Instagram was named #1 by Mashable on its list of "The 100 best iPhone apps of all time," noting Instagram as "one of the most influential social networks in the world."

    References

    Instagram Wikipedia


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