Call it Facebook Halo Effect, if you will. Instagram’s growth from 30 million users in April 2012, to 80 million users today--an astounding increase of 50 million users in only three months. The user growth at Instagram probably validates Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg's decision to acquire the startup for the staggering price of $1 billion on the eve of its IPO.
The mobile-only app is therefore adding users at a scorching average of 10 million users per month! The news comes in handy for acquirer, Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB), who reported a somewhat disappointing quarter – it’s first as a public company.
Instagram has also revealed that almost 4 billion images have been shared since the platform’s launch back in October 2010. It may be interesting to look at Instagram’s announcement below:
“We’re excited to announce that the Instagram community has grown to over 80 million registered users who have shared nearly 4 billion photos! Since we launched Instagram in October 2010, we’ve expanded from one platform to two, bringing Instagram to Android users as well as iOS users. As the community has grown, we’ve seen people sharing photos from all around the world, from South Korea to Bolivia, and even underwater!
We’re humbled by the amazing photos from people’s lives we see every day on Instagram, and thank you for being part of this growing community.
The Instagram Team”
And therein lies the clue. The app has spread its wings from being just an iPhone app, to also including Android, thereby covering the best of both worlds.
One of the main concerns with Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) has been its perceived difficulties with monetizing the rapidly growing mobile user base. Instagram could start playing a very large role here, as it could be the catalyst for pushing Facebook’s mobile initiatives, be they advertising or ecommerce, into user consciousness.
Meanwhile, it appears that “Twitter has changed API restrictions for Instagram, and has eliminated the “Find Your Friends” feature that Instagram previously offered,” according to this news on SlashGear. There is an opinion that this may have been done on bandwidth considerations, but quite possibly it could also be Twitter paying Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) in kind for blocking Twitter’s access to Facebook’s Friend Finder feature in June 2010.
COMMENTARY: In a blog post dated April 11, 2012, I commented on Facebook's acquisition of Instagram, a mobile photo sharing startup, with 30 million users and zero revenues, for an astounding $1 billion Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom wanted $2 billion, but Mark Zuckerberg said no. The Instagram acquisition is Facebook's largest to date. If you compare Google+ vs Instagram imagery, I really see no significant difference. Honestly, I don't know what all the hubbub is about. Instagram is not a breakthrough photo sharing app. I've seen Instagram images appear in both Facebook and Twitter newstreams, but when are they going to start making money off of Instagram? Zuck needs to get hammering, develop a strategy for monetizing mobile, or we are going to see Facebook's stock go under 20.
Courtesy of an article dated July 27, 2012 appearing in ValueWalk
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Posted by: Jen Bishop | 03/20/2013 at 11:31 PM
If facebook doesn't buy this one they are pretty sure that this will be one of their big competitor.
Posted by: how to get followers on instagram | 09/17/2012 at 03:08 AM