6 October 2010 - Instagram launch

When Instagram was launched on the 6th of October, 2010, many disregarded it as just another photo-sharing application that would sooner rather than later fizzle out. However, its co-founder Kevin Systrom believed that the visual medium held an untapped market and foresaw immense technological growth in this domain. This proved true when within its first week, 100,000 people were using Instagram and by December 2010, the application had over a million accounts. The platform had such a remarkable upward trajectory that Facebook, threatened by the competition Instagram posed, bought it for $1 billion in 2012, a short while before Instagram’s initial public offering (IPO).

Today, Instagram is the world’s largest photo-sharing application. It boasts over 1 billion active monthly users and is the 3rd-most downloaded mobile app. In fact, it’s not even just a photo-sharing app anymore; with full-screen videos, stories, Reels, and in-app shopping, it has established itself as a multi-billion dollar entertainment centre and a major business platform.

That being said, the significance of Instagram goes far beyond these astronomical numbers as it has made a huge impact on the world we inhabit, creating and disrupting large industries.

• It has changed the way we travel. Research conducted by Facebook revealed that 67% of travel enthusiasts use Instagram to choose a destination to travel to.
• It has massively heightened the popularity of certain industries, such as the fashion and beauty industries.
• It has created and brought into the limelight careers like content creation or being an influencer.
• Interestingly, the app has successfully mobilised activism with its unique dynamic of a young audience that is highly receptive to social justice.

It’s important to note here that even nearly 11 years after its inception, Instagram continues to win despite there being many applications that started out with a similar vision. However, what makes Instagram stand out is its constantly evolving model - bringing in new features, removing obstinate options, catering to market trends, and experimenting now and then - which is, arguably, the true essence of technology.