Instagram is a social media site that is popular among the youth. But do we know it started? Let's go on a journey and analyze the history of Instagram.
On October 21, 2009, Kevin Systrom, began to work on his dream project under the name of Burbn. It was in 2010, that he received his first-ever fund of US$500,000 from Baseline Ventures and Andreessen Horowitz.
- Mike Krieger, on May 19, 2010, joined Systrom in his dream project.
- It was in October 2010 that the “INSTAGRAM” was launched, an online platform where communication happened with the help of photos.
- It achieved success in December 2010, when it hit 1 million users in less than two months. The developers worked and added hashtags that enabled people to search for photos and each other more easily.
In July 2011 Instagram achieved yet another milestone when it hit 5 million active users each month. And by September 2011, or raised to 10 million active users per month.
- The company updated its software in 2012 and added live filters, instant tilt-shift, high-resolution photographs, one-click rotation, and an updated icon.
- Earlier available and launched only on iPhone IOS, it was released for android users in April 2012. In the same month, the company Facebook bought Instagram for US$500 million. The company grew to have 50 million monthly active users.
- In 2013, Instagram grew to have 100 million monthly users also the company updated its terms and policies that allowed it to sell the photographs of its users to a third party without any compensation and or notification.
- In 2013, Instagram added and introduced photo tagging and for your page on Instagram. It even launched video sharing. By 2013, Instagram hit a total of 150 million users.
- Instagram deleted the account of Petra Collins in 2013 after he posted photographs in which his pubic hairs were visible. Collins reiterated by saying that none of her photos, violated any sort of terms and conditions set up by Instagram.
- November 2013, BBC, accused Instagram in the role of promoting the sale of illicit drugs. The BBC stated that many U.S users on Instagram posted pictures of drugs on the social media platform and were selling them. Following this, the corresponding hashtags were deleted by Instagram.
- In the same month, Instagram added a sponsored advertisement on its platform. The December of 2013, saw the addition of a new feature that allowed its users to send photos directly to their friends.
In 2014, Instagram hits 200 million active users monthly. Instagram also further included new tools that allowed editing and customization of photos. In December of the same month, Instagram hit 300 million active monthly users.
In 2015 Instagram went and did a global advertisement and in the same year, it achieved 400 million active monthly users. It launched a new feature called Boomerang where one shoots 10-20 second long videos.
- In 2016 Instagram, switched its feed from chronological to algorithmically driven best photos first. It also updated its icon and app design for Instagram. The same year it announced to launch of new business tools.
- It reached 500 million monthly active users per month in 2016. Instagram also announced an instant translation feature. It allowed users to filter out comment streams. The same year it launched Instagram stories.
In 2017, Instagram launched a feature allowing users to post multiple photos in a single post. It also introduced a “mute” feature. In 2018, it announced the launch of IGTV.
- In 2020, Instagram launched “guides”, that enabled users to engage with wellness focussed creators to take part in mental health discussion. The same year it launched out “Reels” that competed against Tik-Tok.
- Instagram has acted as not just a platform to make friends and post photos but an active platform to express ones thought in a way that it does not violate one's modesty.
Social