Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger launched Instagram in 2010 after first developing the Burbn app.
Systrom and Krieger created Burbn as a location-based service that included check-ins, plans, photo sharing, and other features. They found that users especially liked the photo-sharing function, so they stripped the product down and built a simpler mobile photo application.
Instagram launched on October 6, 2010, exclusively for Apple’s iPhone operating system. Its name combined “instant telegram,” reflecting the idea of quickly sharing images. The service became known for square photos and built-in filters, which helped distinguish it from broader social networks.
Facebook announced an agreement to acquire Instagram in April 2012 for approximately $1 billion in cash and stock. Systrom and Krieger continued to lead Instagram for several years before leaving the company in 2018. Instagram is now part of Meta Platforms.