Instagram has become one of the biggest social media platforms globally, but have you ever wondered who actually owns Instagram? Let’s dive into its fascinating journey — from a simple photo-sharing app to a billion-dollar empire under a tech giant.

Detail	Information
App Name	Instagram
Type	Social Media Platform
Founded	October 2010
Founders	Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger
Current Owner	Meta Platforms, Inc. (formerly Facebook, Inc.)
CEO of Parent Company	Mark Zuckerberg
Headquarters	Menlo Park, California, United States
Acquisition Date by Facebook	April 2012
Original Purpose	Photo Sharing Application
Current Focus	Photo sharing, video content (Reels, IGTV), shopping, messaging

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The Beginning of Instagram: A Startup Story

Instagram was founded by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger. The app officially launched in October 2010, initially as an iOS-exclusive platform designed for easy photo sharing with attractive filters.

Within just two months, Instagram had over 1 million users. By 2011, the app had crossed 10 million downloads — and this was before it even launched on Android.

Kevin and Mike, both Stanford graduates, envisioned a platform to make photo sharing simple and engaging — and they succeeded brilliantly.

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The Facebook Acquisition: A $1 Billion Deal

Instagram’s rapid growth attracted Mark Zuckerberg, the founder and CEO of Facebook (now Meta Platforms, Inc.).

In April 2012, Facebook acquired Instagram for approximately $1 billion in cash and stock.
At that time, Instagram had only 13 employees, yet it had created a massive impact in the social media world.

Though Zuckerberg initially promised Instagram would operate independently, it gradually became more integrated into Facebook’s broader ecosystem.

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Instagram’s Growth After Joining Facebook (Meta)

After being acquired by Facebook, Instagram introduced several new features and witnessed exponential growth:

Year	Major Event
2013	Launched video sharing feature
2016	Introduced Instagram Stories
2018	Launched IGTV for long-form videos
2020	Released Instagram Reels to compete with TikTok

Today, Instagram is one of the top social networking apps with more than 2 billion active users globally.

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Who Owns Instagram Now?

Currently, Meta Platforms, Inc. owns Instagram.
Meta, formerly known as Facebook, rebranded itself in October 2021 to reflect its broader focus beyond social media, especially towards building the Metaverse.

Thus, Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, is ultimately the owner of Instagram.
Instagram now operates as a core part of Meta’s family of apps, alongside Facebook, Messenger, and WhatsApp.

Important Points:

• Instagram founders Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger left the company in 2018.
• Instagram’s future developments are aligned with Meta’s strategic direction, especially in video, shopping, and AR/VR technologies.

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Did you know that Instagram’s original name was Burbn. Initially, it was a check-in app, but the founders shifted focus to photo sharing, leading to the creation of Instagram as we know it today.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Who created Instagram?
A1: Instagram was created by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger in October 2010.

Q2: When did Facebook buy Instagram?
A2: Facebook acquired Instagram in April 2012 for around $1 billion.

Q3: Who owns Instagram now?
A3: Instagram is owned by Meta Platforms, Inc., led by Mark Zuckerberg.

Q4: Why did Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger leave Instagram?
A4: Reports suggest they left due to tensions over Instagram’s increasing integration with Facebook’s strategies.

Q5: What is Meta Platforms, Inc.?
A5: Meta Platforms, Inc. is the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and other services, focused on social media and the future Metaverse.

Conclusion

Instagram’s journey from a simple app built by two friends to becoming a global social media powerhouse is truly inspiring. Today, under the ownership of Meta and the leadership of Mark Zuckerberg, Instagram continues to innovate and shape the digital world.