Instagram is often considered an integral part of our daily lives, allowing us to share photos and videos while connecting with other users, regardless of our location.
But what exactly is Instagram, and does the definition change depending on whom you ask?
Instagram is a social media app founded in 2010 in San Francisco, USA. It was supposed to be an online photo album but has become much more – for some, it’s even a full-time job. You can use the app to share videos, 24-hour stories, and reels.
The story of this platform is lengthy and captivating, providing valuable insights into the functioning of our modern world.
That being said, here is everything you need to know about Instagram.
Table of Contents
What is Instagram?
The best way to define Instagram is as a social media platform that enables you to store photos and videos in one place. It allows you to upload photos and videos, easily create albums with multiple images, and encourages user engagement.
Originally launched in 2010 as an iOS app, Instagram was later made available on desktop for both PC and Mac users.
But how does it all work? Let’s take a closer look at Instagram’s key features.
Top 4 Instagram Features
1. Photo Sharing
Photo sharing is the main and most important feature of this social media platform and its accompanying app. The name Instagram itself signifies the capability to upload media for the public to view instantly.
This makes it an excellent way to keep your “followers” or other users interested in your life informed about your daily activities.
2. Video Sharing
In addition to uploading photos, you can also upload videos to your Instagram page. Furthermore, you can create video albums by adding multiple videos to a single Instagram post, allowing you to upload longer footage than would otherwise be possible.
3. Instagram Stories
Another way to share your videos is through Instagram stories. These temporary uploads are available for 24 hours (or until you delete them) and can be viewed by your followers at the top of their feeds.
Furthermore, if your profile is set to public, anyone who visits it through search or explore options will be able to view your profile picture by simply clicking on your profile picture.
Finally, some of these moments can be saved on your profile as permanent stories, viewable by anyone who visits it.
4. Reels
The latest upload feature added to the Instagram app, reels, allows users to create 15 to 30-second videos that facilitate the production of short yet engaging content.
These reels can be further enhanced with a range of video and audio effects provided by Instagram or various third-party apps.
Instagram’s History
After discussing some of Instagram’s fundamental features and their functionality, we will now examine the platform’s origins, its founders, and its journey to success.
Who founded Instagram?
Instagram was initially founded by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, two American IT developers who worked on the platform for several months before launching it as an independent entity.
The platform was originally optimized for iPhone, but a few years later, it was expanded to include Android devices as well.
When was Instagram launched?
Instagram’s two founders launched the platform on October 6th, 2010, after a period of development. Initially, the platform was only available on iPhone devices, as there was no support for Android at that time, and the iPad was not yet compatible.
That being said, the platform achieved immediate success, largely due to the iPhone’s popularity in the US at that time, which led to its value skyrocketing over the next two years.
Does Facebook Own Instagram?
Astounded by the platform’s success in its first two years, Facebook chose to acquire it, ultimately reaching an agreement with its founders in April 2012.
Since Instagram has been owned by Facebook, CEO Mark Zuckerberg has stated that he has allowed Mike Krieger and his team to continue developing the Instagram app independently.
The deal was valued at $1 billion in cash and stock, immediately providing the company with a substantially larger budget to use, as most of the funds were allocated to Instagram itself.
Integration with Facebook Messenger and Android Release
Shortly after Facebook acquired Instagram, the integration of the two platforms began, bringing Instagram into closer alignment with other social media platforms that were also starting to integrate at that time.
Initially, the ability to use your Facebook Messenger account as your Instagram account was introduced, followed by the application’s highly successful launch on Android.
In fact, the app recorded over one million registered users who downloaded it on their Android devices in less than one day, an unprecedented achievement at the time.
Supported by the significant profits of its parent company, Facebook, Instagram continued to attract new users and maintain its dominance in the social networking market.
Full integration with Facebook and the creation of the desktop app
When Facebook Inc. acquired Instagram, some worried it would signal the beginning of the end for the platform, as Facebook began to exert control and impede its development.
This was not the case at all. Despite the increasing integration of the two social media platforms, Instagram continued to grow, ultimately surpassing one billion users in 2018.
Throughout its development, the platform underwent several changes based on the preferences of Instagram users. These changes included reducing the app’s size by half for easier installation and introducing a significant visual redesign that allowed users to display more photos on their screens, thereby enhancing the functionality of the news feed.
This photo-sharing app has also introduced additional changes.
In April 2016, a Windows app was launched that allowed desktop users to download and use Instagram on their computers without the need for an emulator, thus introducing the platform to an entirely new user base.
Finally, a month later, on May 11th of the same year, Instagram released a major update that entirely transformed its visual appearance, user interface, and icon.
This is considered the largest update in the app’s history and has greatly contributed to its rapid growth.
Modern Era
The Instagram app and website are consistently receiving updates, including features such as Live TV and video sharing during calls. Alongside these improvements, the virtual reality market and Oculus VR are also being investigated.
That being said, the company is facing more challenges than ever before. As the social media market continues to expand and new platforms emerge globally, Instagram will encounter significant difficulties in maintaining user engagement and loyalty to the platform.
How to Get Started on Instagram?
Following that brief history lesson on Instagram and its origins, let’s explore how to maximize the platform as a regular user. Here are the steps:
1. Creating an Instagram Account
To begin your Instagram journey, you must create an account. You can accomplish this by either visiting the website instagram.com in your browser or by downloading the app from your device’s store.
For Android, you will need to use the Google Play Store, while iOS utilizes the App Store. Below is how the account creation screen will appear.
2. Getting started
After creating your account, it will be empty. You will have no posts or followers, and you will not be following anyone. These items should be the next steps on your to-do list.
First, if you have used your Facebook account or a phone directory on your mobile device, Instagram will automatically suggest connecting you with people found in those sources. This integration serves as a valuable tool for quickly reaching out to your friends.
If you want to follow more people, such as celebrities, business pages, or other users of interest, you can do this by using the search and explore tabs. Here’s how:
3. Discovering People to Follow
After downloading the app and creating your account, you will need to find people you wish to interact with. You can search for other Instagram users in two primary ways:
The first method is to utilize the explore page, which can be accessed through a button at the bottom of your screen.
Additionally, you can use the Search bar at the top of the explore page to find a specific user by entering their username. If you don’t know the full name, you can type in part of it: Instagram’s algorithm will take care of the rest.
4. Explore the Options
Becoming an expert at using Instagram does not happen overnight. The most effective way to become familiar with the platform is to use it personally. Experiment with its various features, post photos and videos, and engage with other users by commenting on their posts. You’ll master it in no time!
3 Benefits of Using Instagram
The main reason Instagram gained such popularity is that it provides a way to establish an immediate presence for yourself or your business in the global market.
Instagram, with its video-sharing features and the significant number of young users who spend much of their time on the platform, is an excellent venue for advertising a variety of products and services.
Here is a list of benefits you can gain from having an active presence on this platform:
1. Your content reaches a broader audience
Instagram is extremely popular, both worldwide and across different age groups. Furthermore, many established businesses have a strong presence on the platform, making it an ideal venue to attract new customers for any product or service you offer.
2. It simplifies the tracking of all news
Because people tend to follow trending content and Instagram’s algorithm often prioritizes it in the explore tab, this platform offers a quick and easy way to stay informed about both local and global news without having to watch TV or read a newsletter.
3. It helps to preserve important moments
In a way, Instagram can function as a personal or family photo album that is also available to the public. The photos are securely stored on Instagram’s servers and are easily accessible, ensuring their protection in case your devices are damaged or stolen.
What Issues Is Instagram Facing?
Instagram owes a significant part of its large user base to being the first social media platform of its kind, facing minimal competition for several years because of Facebook’s considerable budget.
As time went on, however, and the number of social media platforms grew, Instagram’s advantage started to wane. Today, partly due to the generational shift as Gen Z users take the place of millennials, Instagram is increasingly viewed as an outdated platform, even if that perception is not accurate.
Ultimately, the app’s integration with Facebook somewhat reduces the update frequency, as developers must ensure that they do not disrupt the integration package when releasing new features.
3 Tips and Tricks for Using Instagram
1. You can change your Instagram account to private
If you want to control who can view your photos and videos, the most effective way to do this is by making your Instagram account private. This will not only restrict access to your account from the public, but anyone who wishes to follow you will need to send a request first, similar to the process on Facebook.
2. Promote Your Account to Gain More Followers
If you are using Instagram for business or want to highlight your substantial follower count, you can promote your account via the app or through third-party websites. Furthermore, you can link to your other social media accounts if you wish.
3. Maintain the account’s activity
One of the main challenges young people face today is their short attention spans. Consequently, to effectively use your Instagram account, you need to post regularly.
Conclusion
As one of the first authentic social media platforms focused on photo and video sharing, Instagram has gained a substantial head start in this industry and continues to enjoy its popularity to this day.
This app is user-friendly and straightforward, compatible with various devices, offers access to news and trending content, and can function as an online photo album to preserve your memories.
Finally, the app is owned by Facebook, a company with a long and stable history that guarantees its ongoing success in the future.
FAQ
What is the main purpose of Instagram?
While more and more businesses and influencers are coming to the platform, its primary purpose is to be a public photo album available to anyone, allowing you to share moments of your life with friends and family. However, that purpose has been heavily expanded, and nowadays, Instagram is also used as a news outlet, a way to follow trends, etc.
Is Instagram owned by Mark Zuckerberg?
Meta, the owner of Facebook, whose majority shareholder is Mark Zuckerberg, purchased Instagram for 1 billion USD back in 2012, taking over from its original founders. Thus, we can say that Mark Zuckerberg is the majority shareholder of Instagram.
Who was the first Instagram user?
The first person to register on the platform and make a post on it was one of its founders, Mike Krieger, back on October 6th, 2010. Since then, the platform has had several billion unique users.
