When Instagram was first launched, it attracted many users as the fastest growing photo sharing mobile app. It did not take long until it was acquired by Facebook for $100 Million. I say the founder(s) of the app rushed into selling it. If waited just couple more years, it could have been sold in the billions.
Around the same time Instagram was sold, Snapchat was offered $3 Billion in which the offer was turned down.
Instagram initially started with only photo sharing feature while enabling comments on posted photos. The second feature was added shortly after which is sharing 15-second long videos, attracting many of existing Vine app users which only offered sharing six-second long videos at the time. However, recently Vine announced extending the video sharing length up to 140-second while keeping the six-second format to act as preview for the 140-second videos.
Instagram continued adding features, not really new features rather popular features available on other mobile apps, mainly incorporating many of Snapchat features.
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Instagram is currently bundled with the following features:
- Sharing pictures – enabling comment
- Sharing videos – enabling comments
- Direct messaging (DM)
- Daily stories – (24-hour expiration period)
- Boomerang – for creating captivating mini videos that loop back and forth
- Sending disappearing photos & videos
Comparing the features of Instagram and Snapchat, the primary features are somewhat identical. Should it be called InstaSnap? Well, you can call it whatever you like.
The question remains who is copying who?
