The Rise of Instagram: From Square Photos to Silicon Giant

Launched in October 2010 by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger after pivoting from a location-based app called Burbn, Instagram experienced explosive growth and was acquired by Facebook for $1 billion in 2012. Since then, the platform has evolved into a global social media giant with billions of active users by continuously introducing engaging features like Stories and Reels, while simultaneously facing significant scrutiny regarding its negative impact on youth mental health and body image.