Celebrating 10 Years of Instagram
We’re celebrating 10 years of Instagram! – so we thought we would take a look back at our beloved apps’ evolution through the years.
2010
All the way back in October 2010 its founder uploaded the first-ever pic. The Instagram app officially launches, gaining 25,000 users in a day.
2011
The app welcomes hashtags! Instagram adds hashtags to help users discover both photographs and each other.
2012
Facebook buys Instagram for a billion dollars! At the time, Instagram only had 12 employees and wasn’t making any revenue. In the same year, Instagram adds the Explore Page.
2013
The app introduces photo tagging and a new ‘Photos of You’ tab on profiles, comparing every tagged image of a user in the one spot.
Remember when you could only upload images to the platform? In 2013 Instagram also rolled out the option to upload videos of up to 15 seconds.
AND we were introduced to private DMing – The new feature allowed users to send photos, videos and texts directly to another account in the app.
2014
Things start to get exciting with its update to the image editing section, allowing users to not only add Instagram’s filters, but edit image characteristics like brightness, contrast, highlights, and shadows.
OH and just a small 300M people are now using Instagram every month!
2015
Business meets Instagram in 2015 – with advertisers allowed to share 30-second in-feed video ads. We’re also introduced to the famous Boomerang tool!
2016
Instagrams biggest year yet!
The app finally allows users to share videos to Instagram that are up to 60 seconds in length – allowing for better-produced videos to start being uploaded.
In May – The app introduced a new look, including an updated icon and in-app design.
In June – the app switches from a chronological feed to an algorithmically-driven feed, based on the user’s interests and interactions causing significant debate across the Instagram community.
In August – Instagram launches Stories to compete with user favourite Snapchat. Instagram Stories is now one of the app’s most popular features, with over 500 million daily users.
In November – Instagram introduces Shopping! Brands can now tag shoppable products in-feed posts. When users click on the tag, it will allow them to view the item and pricing, also giving them the option to be taken to the brand’s website to purchase.
Oh and Instagram’s Live feature is released enabling users to hold live broadcasts for up to one hour.
2017
Meet the Carousel – The update allows users to share up to ten pieces of content in the one mini-album post. Content can include both photos and videos. Plus we’re given added possibilities with AR effects on the app.
2018
Video takes the lead – with the launch of IGTV, a new video feature that allows users to upload long-form video content of up to 10 minutes. Creators with larger audiences can upload hour-long IGTVs.
In June: Instagram hits one billion monthly active users. And we’re introduced to music in stories!
2019
Instagram takes Shopping to the next level and releases the checkout function; by introducing a new way to shop and buy products users love without ever leaving the app.
In November: To combat mental health and bullying, the app tests hiding like counts from the public.
2020 – 10 years of Instagram
Now, after 10 years of Instagram, they allow creators to start making money directly off of IGTV. They confirm that ads will begin playing in IGTV videos for a selected 200 approved.
In August of this year: Instagram tries to compete with newcomer TikTok by rolling out Reels, a short-form video feature that allows users to create and discover short, entertaining videos, of up to 30-seconds in length.
