Traditionally, shared photos on Instagram are only visible in the home stream in a 10-hour window, but still accessible by clicking on a user’s profile.
In case you haven’t heard, Facebook acquired Instagram, the free photo-sharing app, for apparently $1 billion earlier this spring. For those unfamiliar with Instagram, the app allows users to take or upload photos, apply effect filters, then share on a variety of social media profiles, including its own. Much like Facebook, Instagram’s social network allows users to like or comment on shared photos, but photos are only visible on the home stream during a 10-hour window.
In the few months since the acquisition, Instagram developers have been working rigorously to launch new product ideas. According to a recent article by Barry Neild, Instagram co-founder Kevin Systrom announced that with the addition of new features to help organize photos, the app will be evolving. In the article, “Instagram Wants Photos to be Seen Beyond 10-Hour Window,” Systrom says, “the company plans to introduce channels to organize the flow of images and help users find the best ones.” Systrom continues, “he wants to expand the software to go beyond the ’10-hour’ time frame viewed by most users.” By making photos visible longer, Systrom believes it will help users “see into the past.” But, do users really want to see into the past of their friends or is it just an avenue for more advertising? Providing more photos for users to browse through, could increase their time on the app. This means there could be more opportunities for generating revenue with advertising. As time goes on, it will be interesting to see if Facebook begins to implement more of their advertising strategies and privacy policies.
Read an excerpt from the article.
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Systrom said Instagram’s success lay in its ability to help people communicate visually and express themselves to a wider audience in new, creative ways. “If it’s an honest, genuine photo, it will go far,” he said.
But he admitted there was considerable room for improvement. He said the company plans to introduce “channels” to organize the flow of images and help users find the best ones.
“I think we need to do a better job of creating these channels and silos that allow people to learn new things about the world,” he said. “We have the content — it’s about exploring it.”
To escape the sense that Instagram’s feed is merely a snapshot of the past few hours, Systrom said his developers are working to find better ways to curate older content.
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