Land of the Giants

Why Instagram Broke Its Square

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Jul 27, 2022
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ANECDOTE

Instagram's Authentic Origins

  • Instagram's founders prized authenticity and aesthetic simplicity, making users' feeds look like curated magazine spreads.
  • Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger built Instagram to emphasize direct connections, resisting features like resharing to keep the experience personal.
INSIGHT

Pressure Reduced Posting on Instagram

  • The pressure to post perfect photos on Instagram led to less sharing, threatening overall platform engagement.
  • This pressure was particularly harmful for teens, who faced intense anxiety over likes and comments.
INSIGHT

Stories Reduced Sharing Anxiety

  • Snapchat's Stories feature offered a low-pressure, ephemeral way to share, resonating especially with teens.
  • Instagram copied Stories to reduce sharing anxiety and neutralize Snapchat's competitive threat.
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