How Long Has Instagram Been Around? A Complete History
Instagram is now one of the most influential social media platforms in the world — but how long has Instagram been around? Since its launch, Instagram has revolutionized visual content sharing, shaped online culture, and created new opportunities for businesses and influencers alike.
Instagram\'s Launch Date
October 6, 2010
Instagram officially launched as an iOS-exclusive photo-sharing app
Created by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, it gained over 25,000 users in the first 24 hours — a sign of the massive impact it would soon have.
The Founders and Their Vision
Instagram began as a side project called "Burbn," which combined location check-ins and photo sharing. When Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger realized users were primarily using the photo feature, they stripped everything else away and focused purely on photos — giving birth to Instagram as we know it.
Key Milestones in Instagram\'s History
October 2010
Year 0Instagram launches for iOS only — photo filters revolutionize mobile photography
December 2010
2 MonthsHits 1 million users in just two months
April 2012
18 MonthsAcquired by Facebook for $1 billion — one of the biggest tech acquisitions at the time
April 2012
Same MonthAndroid version released — gains 1 million downloads on the first day
June 2013
3 YearsVideo sharing introduced — 15-second videos with filters
August 2016
6 YearsInstagram Stories launches — now one of the most-used features with 500M+ daily users
June 2018
8 YearsIGTV debuts for long-form video content (later integrated into main feed)
August 2020
10 YearsInstagram Reels introduced to compete with TikTok — short-form video content explosion
2023
13 YearsInstagram reaches over 2 billion monthly active users
2025
15 YearsRemains one of the top 5 most-used apps globally with continued growth in AI, shopping, and creator tools
How Instagram Has Evolved
Over the years, Instagram transformed from a simple photo app to a full-fledged content ecosystem:
📱 Features Added
- • Stories and Highlights (2016)
- • Live Streaming (2016)
- • Shopping tools (2018)
- • Reels (2020)
- • Creator monetization (2021+)
- • AI-driven Explore tab
🎯 Focus Shifts
- • Photos → Video-first content
- • Social sharing → E-commerce
- • Chronological → Algorithm feed
- • Casual → Creator economy
- • Desktop ignored → Mobile-native
Instagram\'s Cultural and Business Impact
Since 2010, Instagram has reshaped how people communicate, build communities, and market products:
- Launched the "influencer economy" worth billions of dollars
- Redefined visual storytelling and mobile photography
- Became a key sales channel for global brands
- Serves as a discovery engine for art, fashion, food, and trends
- Changed how news and information spreads visually
- Created new career paths (content creators, social media managers)
📊 Instagram Today (2025)
- ✓ 2+ billion monthly active users
- ✓ 500+ million daily Stories users
- ✓ Over 200 million business accounts
- ✓ 90% of users follow at least one business
- ✓ Available in 40+ languages
Conclusion: 15 Years and Counting
Instagram has been around since October 6, 2010, and over the past 15 years, it has grown into a platform that shapes culture, commerce, and communication around the globe.
From a simple photo-sharing app to a billion-user ecosystem with shopping, video, and creator tools, Instagram\'s evolution is a testament to how fast the digital world moves — and how a single platform can change the way we live online.