In what year did Facebook acquire Instagram?

Facebook acquired Instagram in 2012. The deal was announced on April 9, 2012, and valued Instagram at approximately $1 billion in cash and stock.

Instagram had launched in 2010 as a photo-sharing app created by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger. Its rapid growth, simple filters, and strong mobile focus made it one of the most prominent young social platforms.

Facebook said it intended to keep Instagram independently managed rather than immediately folding it into Facebook. The transaction officially closed on September 6, 2012, for about $300 million in cash and 23 million Facebook shares.

A common mix-up is confusing the announcement date with the closing date: both occurred in 2012. Another frequently remembered Facebook acquisition is WhatsApp, which Facebook announced later, in 2014.