Instagram, All You Need to Know.pdf

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Instagram
History and evolution of Instagram
Instagram, a social media platform launched in 2010, has rapidly
evolved to become one of the most influential digital giants in the
information age. With over 1 billion monthly active users worldwide, the
app has not only transformed the way we share life's moments, but has
also significantly impacted culture, communication and marketing. This
text will explore the history and evolution of this important contemporary
platform.
The history and evolution of the Instagram platform takes us on a
journey through a decade of significant changes in the world of social
media and digital photography. Since its launch in October 2010,
Instagram has gone from being a simple photo-sharing application to
becoming a powerful platform for communication, promotion and social
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connection. Next,we will explore the key milestones in Instagram history
and how it has evolved over the years.
Instagram was created by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger as an
iOS-only app in 2010. In its early stages, the platform was simple and
focused primarily on photo editing and sharing. The idea behind
Instagram came about when Systrom and Krieger noticed how more and
more people were using their mobile phones to take photos and share
them on existing social networks. They saw an opportunity to create an
application that will center in mobile photography and will present a quick
and easy way to share images with creative filters.
Instagram quickly became popular among iOS users and in just two
months, it reached one million registered users. As its user base grew,
Instagram launched its Android version in April 2012, which meant even
more growth and popularity for the platform.
In 2012, just two years after its launch, Facebook acquired Instagram for
a staggering $1 billion, ensuring a promising future for the platform. This
acquisition allowed Instagram to expand further and leverage the power
and resources of Facebook.
With the acquisition of Facebook, Instagram underwent notable changes
in its development and features. One of the biggest updates was the
introduction of videos in 2013, allowing users to share clips of up to 15
seconds. This marked a major turning point, as Instagram stopped being
just a platform for sharing still photos and became a platform for sharing
moments in motion.
In 2016, Instagram surprised its users by changing its iconic interface
design, adopting a new logo and a more minimalist look. This update
also introduced the "Instagram Stories" feature, similar to the Snapchat
feature, which allowed users to share photos and videos thatthey
disappeared after 24 hours. This addition was controversial upon launch,
but proved to be a resounding success and led to a significant increase
in user engagement with the platform.
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Instagram continued to innovate and introduced a number of new
features in the following years. In 2018, they launched IGTV, a platform
for long-form vertical videos that challenged YouTube as the leading
platform for online videos. They also introduced features like shopping
tags, which allow businesses to tag products in posts, and the music
option in stories.
Over the course of its evolution, Instagram has become much more than
just a photo-sharing platform. It has become a place for hundreds of
millions of people to connect, discover content, explore interests and
promote business. Celebrities, influencers and brands have found
Instagram an essential tool to promote themselves and reach broader
audiences.
Today, Instagram has more than one billion monthly active users and
remains one of the most popular social networks in the world. The
platform has evolved to adapt to the needs and wants of its user base,
adding new features and providing more and more opportunities for
creative expression and social connection.
Technical architecture
Instagram, with its cultural impact, advanced technical architecture, and
innovative features, has become much more than just a social media
platform. It has influenced the way we share experiences, create online
communities and participate in the digital world. In this second video we
will talk about the technical architecture from Instagram.
The technical architecture of the Instagram platform is a fundamental
aspect for its operation and success. This social network, dedicated to
sharing photos and videos, has become one of the most popular in the
world, with millions of active users daily. Behind its simple and attractive
appearance lies a complex technical structure that allows users to share
and discover content quickly and efficiently.
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Instagram's architecture is designed to ensure optimal performance as
well as a smooth and secure user experience. To achieve this, it is
based on a combination of different technical and architectural
components.
First of all, the platform uses a distributed architecture approach, which
means that its infrastructure is made up of various servers and data
centers located in different locations around the world. This allows you to
distribute the workload and maintain a high level of performance, even
during times of high traffic.
A key component in Instagram's architecture is its database. Being a
platform where users can upload and share content, such as photos and
videos, a robust and scalable storage system is required. To do this,
Instagram uses a combination of SQL and NoSQL databases. SQL
databases are used to store structured data such as user information
and social interactions. On the other hand, the NoSQL databases are
used to store unstructured data such as images and videos.
Additionally, Instagram takes advantage of caching technology to speed
up content loading. This means that common, static elements, such as
logos and profile images, are cached on servers closest to the user,
allowing for faster loading times and a smoother user experience.
Another important aspect of Instagram's architecture is its image
processing system. As a photography-focused platform, it is essential
that images uploaded by users are uploaded andshow quickly and
efficiently. To do this, Instagram uses a real-time image processing
system, which allows you to adjust the size, quality and other aspects of
the images to adapt them to the different devices and connections of
users.
Security is a fundamental aspect of Instagram's architecture. Since
users rely on the platform to share their content, it is crucial to ensure
the privacy and protection of their data. To do this, Instagram uses
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various security measures, such as data encryption, behavioral pattern
analysis, and threat detection algorithms, to identify and prevent
suspicious or malicious activity.
Scalability is another key element in Instagram's architecture. Given its
constant growth and high volume of users and content, the platform
must be able to scale and adapt to handle any demand. For this,
Instagram uses techniques such as horizontal scalability, which consists
of adding more servers instead of improvements to each server
individually. This ensures optimal performance even during times of
increased traffic.
In short, the technical architecture of the Instagram platform is complex
and diverse, but essential to delivering a smooth and secure user
experience. The combination of elements such as distributed
architecture, real-time image processing, security and scalability allows
Instagram to remain one of the most popular social networks in the
world.
Principal functions
Instagram, a social media platform launched in 2010, has quickly
become one of the most influential digital giants of the information age.
With over 1 billion monthly active users worldwide, the app has not only
changed the way we share life's moments, but has also had a huge
impact on culture, communication and marketing. This text details what
the main functions of Instagram are.
Instagram is a social media platform that has become ubiquitous in the
daily lives of millions of people around the world. With more than one
billion monthly active users, Instagram has become an essential tool for
many people, whether to share moments of their lives, promote a
business, or simply entertain themselves.
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The heart of Instagram is its feed, where users share photos and videos.
The algorithm determines the order of posts displayed, prioritizing
content that is most likely to generate engagement. Instagram's most
basic and distinctive feature is the ability to share photos and videos.
Users can take photos or record videos directly from the app or upload
previously captured media to their devices. Once the content has been
selected, the users can apply preset filters, adjust brightness, contrast,
and saturation, add text and drawings, and crop or rotate content to their
preferences. This simple and accessible editing feature has allowed
people to improve the quality of their photos and videos before sharing
them with the world.
Introduced in 2016, Stories allow users to share ephemeral content that
disappears after 24 hours. This feature has changed the way people
share everyday moments, being adopted by both individual users and
brands. Posts on Instagram are a sequence of photos or videos that are
grouped together in a slideshow. Each post can contain up to ten images
or videos, and users can add descriptive text to each image. This feature
has led to the popularity of themed or narrative posts, where users can
tell a story through a series of images or videos.
These stories, like on Snapchat, are ephemeral posts that disappear
after 24 hours. Users can add photos or videos to their story, and can
include text, stickers, and filters to personalize their content. Stories
have changed the way people share daily moments on Instagram,
allowing for more casual and spontaneous posts that don't necessarily
require full editing.
The Explore section uses the algorithm to display relevant content based
on the user's interests. This not only expands the visibility of content, but
also encourages interaction between users with similar interests. In
addition to direct interaction with other users, Instagram also allows
users to search and discover new content through the Explore feature.
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The Explore page displays a selection of posts and accounts related to
the user's interests and previous interactions. This allows users to
discover relevant content and find new accounts to follow. The Explore
feature is also essential for brands and businesses, allowing them to
reach new audiences and promote their products or services through
sponsored content.
Last but not least, Instagram has also introduced an e-commerce feature
to allow users to purchase products directly from the platform. Users can
tag products in their posts, allowing followers to click on the products
and be redirected to the seller's online store. This feature has opened
new
opportunities for brands and influencers as they can monetize their
presence on Instagram by selling products and promoting collaborations
with companies.
Social and Cultural Impact
With its social impact and cultural influence, advanced technical
architecture and innovative features, Instagram is much more than just a
social media platform. This is impacting the way we share experiences,
create online communities and participate in the digital world.
1. **Influencers and Marketing:** Instagram has given rise to the figure
of the "influencer". These people, with large followings, collaborate with
brands to promote products and services. Influencer marketing has
become a key strategy for many companies.
2. **Change in Visual Aesthetics:** The visual nature of Instagram has
influenced contemporary visual aesthetics. From filters to the importance
of image quality, the platform has shaped the way people create and
consume visual content.
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3. **Connection and Community:** Instagram has allowed people to
connect beyond geographical barriers. The ability to follow friends,
celebrities, or specific communities has created a sense of belonging
and strengthened online relationships.
4. **Impact on Mental Health:** Although Instagram has had a positive
impact on social connection, it has also been associated with mental
health issues. Constant comparison, pressure to get likes, and addiction
to online validation are concerns the platform has faced.
The Instagram platform, since its launch in 2010, has had a profound
and lasting impact on society and culture. As it evolved and grew,
Instagram quickly became one of the most popular apps in the world,
with over a billion users around the planet.
The social impact of Instagram is evident when you see how it has
transformed our interactions and forms of communication. With
Instagram, people can instantly connect with friends and family, share
moments from their daily lives through photos and videos, and follow the
lives of influencers, celebrities, and brands we admire. This platform has
expanded the boundaries of our personal relationships, allowing us to
stay Connected with people who are far away and share experiences in
real time.
However, Instagram's reach doesn't stop at personal relationships. It has
also had a significant impact on the way we consume and share cultural
content. Before Instagram, people mainly relied on traditional media for
information and entertainment. Now, Instagram has democratized
access to cultural content, allowing anyone to share their experiences
and perspectives with the world.
The platform has given rise to a new type of influencers called
"instagramers", people who have become experts at creating attractive
content and sharing it with their followers. These "Instagrammers" have
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become influential figures who can shape the opinions, trends and
behaviors of millions of people. Their power of influence is so strong that
brands often collaborate with them to promote products and services.
Instagram has created an influence economy, where people can earn
money through posts and sponsorships.
Instagram has also had a profound impact on the fashion and art
industry. Now, designers and artists can show their work directly to their
audience, without the need for intermediaries. This has led to a
democratization of the industry, where new voices can be heard and
emerging artists can find a platform to share their work and be
discovered.
However, not everything is roses in the cultural impact of Instagram. The
platform has come under fire for its impact on self-esteem and
self-perception. The photoshopped images and perfect appearance
often displayed on Instagram can lead to feelings of insecurity and low
self-esteem, especially among young people. Many people constantly
have seemingly perfect images they see on the platform, which can
negatively affect their mental health.
Instagram has been the subject of debate about how it has transformed
our relationship with privacy. By promoting a lifestyle based on constant
sharing, always being connected and seeking external validation,
Instagram has changed our notion of privacy and created a society
where many live with the pressure of maintaining a perfect image online.
Instagram Challenges and Controversies
Instagram has become much more than just a social media platform. It
has influenced the way we share experiences, create online
communities and participate in the digital world. But also they faced their
impact on society. How Instagram addresses these challenges will
determine its role in the next era of social media evolution.
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1. **Algorithm and Polarized Content: ** The nature of Instagram's
algorithm has been criticized for contributing to the creation of filter
bubbles and the emergence of polarized content. This has led to
debates about the platform's responsibility in spreading biased
information.
2. **Privacy and Security:** As Instagram has grown, so have concerns
about privacy and security. From managing personal data to preventing
online harassment, the platform has had to address several issues to
maintain a safe environment.
The Instagram platform has become an integral part of the daily lives of
millions of people around the world. This social network, launched in
2010, focuses on photo and video sharing, and has gained popularity
due to its visual approach and ability to create instant connections.
However, as Instagram has grown in size and reach, it has also
generated challenges and controversies that affect its users and society
at large.
One of the main challenges facing Instagram is its impact on people's
mental health. The platform is designed to display carefully created and
perfected images, which can create undue pressure for users to look
and behave in a certain way.
Many people compare themselves to the seemingly perfect lives they
see on Instagram and feel bad about themselves when they fail to meet
the unrealistic standards set by the platform. This has led to an increase
in anxiety, depression, and eating disorders among Instagram users,
especially teenagers.
Another controversy surrounding Instagram is its lack of control over
inappropriate and harmful content. The platform has been criticized for
allowing the proliferation of violent, sexual or hate images and videos.
Although Instagram has policies in place to address these issues, it is
often difficult for the platform to quickly identify and remove all
inappropriate content due to its sheer volume and the ability for users to
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create content anonymously. This raises concerns about the safety of
users, especially younger ones, who may be victims of harassment,
discrimination or exploitation.
There have also been controversies surrounding the lack of privacy on
Instagram. Although the platform offers tools to adjust the
account privacy settings, many users are not aware of these options or
simply do not use them.
This means that users' personal information, such as their location,
habits and interests, can often be accessed and used by third parties
without their consent. This raises concerns about online privacy and
security, especially considering the large number of young users using
Instagram.
Additionally, Instagram has come under fire for its inactivity in combating
misinformation and fake news. Despite the platform's efforts to remove
false content, users continue to encounter inaccurate or misleading
information on the platform.
This is especially concerning when you consider the reach of Instagram
and its ability to influence people's opinions and decisions. Several
studies have shown that Instagram has been used to spread fake news
during important political events, endangering the integrity of the
democratic process.
Finally, another major controversy relates to the Instagram algorithm and
its impact on user visibility and growth. The platform's algorithm
determines which content is shown first in each user's feed, which has
led to complaints about some users' lack of visibility and Instagram's
preference for certain types of content. This has led to the creation of
communities of users seeking to "hack" Instagram's algorithm to gain
more visibility and followers, which has sometimes led to inappropriate
tactics such as using bots and buying followers.
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