It seems like just yesterday that Instagram announced it had passed the 400 million user mark. Though it wasn’t quite yesterday, it was just eight months ago that news broke.
This morning, in a post on the company blog, Instagram proudly proclaimed it had reached half a billion users around the world with 80 percent of those being located outside the United States. The company went on to write that of those 500 million users, 300 million use Instagram every day.
Since the company was purchased in 2012 by Facebook for $677 million, Instagram has sustained a rapid growth rate. Recently, the platform made headlines for various controversial decisions such as the changes made its photo algorithm stream, terms of service, and even its beloved icon.
The BBC reports that an average of 95 million photos are posted per day. The platform has surpassed Twitter by a large margin and has become the favourite social app among many celebrities. Instagram’s biggest competition is likely Snapchat, which has captured the hearts and minds of the younger generation.
Furthermore, Facebook has grown from having hundreds of advertisers in November to over 200 thousand marketers across 200 markets, which will likely produce approximately $1.5 billion in global advertising this year.
In an age where visual content is key, it’s almost certain that Instagram will see continued growth. It was recently announced that the Facebook-owned messaging app WhatsApp has hit 1 billion users, and Instagram won’t be far behind.
The company issued a thank you in the announcement, saying that its continued growth wouldn’t be possible without its dedicated users.
“As you’ve captured and shared the moments happening around you, you’ve formed incredibly varied and diverse communities. Whether you’re an illustrator, a sneakerhead or an astronaut on the International Space Station, every photo and video you share helps bring people closer to friends and interests, broadens perspectives and inspires a sense of wonder. You’ve made Instagram a place where the everyday and the epic are always within reach.”
Image credit: Instagram
Related reading: Instagram’s new algorithmic timeline goes live
[source]Instagram[/source]
