Instagram facts for kids
  |
|
|
Screenshot
Wikipedia's Instagram page on January 12, 2026.
|
|
| Original author(s) | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Meta Platforms |
| Initial release | October 12, 2010 in San Francisco, California, US |
| Operating system |
|
| Available in | 33 languages |
|
List of languages
|
|
| License | Proprietary |
Instagram is a popular app where people share photos and short videos. It's a social networking service owned by Meta Platforms. You can upload your media, make it look cool with filters, and organize it with hashtags. You can also add your location using geotags.
You can choose to share your posts with everyone or just with friends you've approved. On Instagram, you can explore content from other users by looking at tags and locations. You can also see what's trending, give likes to photos, and follow other users. When you follow someone, their posts show up in your personal feed.
Instagram is available on many devices like iOS (for iPhones), Android phones, Windows 10, and through a web browser. It supports many languages, including English, Spanish, and French.
Instagram first started with square photos, but now you can post photos and videos in different shapes. It also has messaging features and a "Stories" feature. Stories let you share content that disappears after 24 hours, similar to Snapchat. This feature became very popular, with millions of people using it daily.
Instagram was created by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger. It launched on October 12, 2010, and quickly became very popular. In April 2012, Facebook bought Instagram. While Instagram is loved for its success, some people have concerns about how it affects how young people feel about themselves. There are also discussions about its rules for content and how it handles user information.
Contents
Instagram's Journey: How It Started and Grew
Instagram began in San Francisco as an app called Burbn. Its creators, Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, first thought of it as a check-in app. But they noticed that people really liked sharing photos. So, they decided to focus on photo-sharing instead.
They changed the app's name to Instagram, which is a mix of "instant camera" and "telegram."
Early Days and Big Steps
The first version of the app, called Burbn Beta, came out for iPhones on October 6, 2010. Just six days later, on October 12, 2010, the official app, now named Instagram, was released. It quickly became a hit!
Instagram gained 1 million users in just two months. In a year, it had 10 million users, and by June 2018, it reached 1 billion users.
Joining the Facebook Family
In April 2012, Instagram launched its app for Android phones. It was downloaded over a million times on its first day! Soon after, on April 9, 2012, Facebook bought Instagram. Facebook wanted Instagram to keep running on its own, but as part of the Facebook family.
Later, Instagram also became available on computers through a web browser in November 2012. An app for Windows 10 came out in October 2016. In September 2025, Instagram launched a special app for iPadOS that used the larger screen better.
New Looks and Features
In June 2015, Instagram updated its website to look simpler and cleaner. Profile pictures also changed from square to round.
On May 11, 2016, Instagram changed its app design with a new black-and-white look and a more colorful, modern icon. In December 2016, Instagram added the ability to "like" comments.
In May 2017, Instagram's mobile website allowed users to upload photos.
IGTV and Changes in Leadership
To follow rules about how user information is handled, Instagram allowed users to download their data in April 2018.
IGTV launched in June 2018 as a separate app for longer videos. However, it was later removed in March 2022 because not many people were using it, and Instagram shifted to focusing on short videos.
In September 2018, the founders, Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, announced they were leaving Instagram. Adam Mosseri became the new head of Instagram in October 2018.
Focusing on Connection, Not Just Likes
In May 2019, Instagram started testing a change in Canada: removing the public "like" counts on posts. This meant only the person who posted the content could see how many likes it received. The idea was to help users worry less about getting likes and focus more on connecting with others. This test later expanded worldwide.
Instagram also added new features to reduce mean comments. In August 2019, the "Following" tab, which showed what friends were liking and commenting on, was removed. This was because many users didn't realize their activity was public there.
Instagram also launched a separate app called Threads, similar to Snapchat, for private messaging and video chats with close friends. However, this version of Threads was stopped in December 2021 as most of its features moved into the main Instagram app.
Recent Updates and New Features
In March 2020, Instagram launched "Co-Watching," allowing users to share posts with each other during video calls. This was helpful for connecting with friends and family during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In August 2020, Instagram introduced "Reels," a new feature for short videos, to compete with TikTok. Reels quickly became very popular. Instagram also started showing "suggested posts" from accounts you don't follow, based on your interests.
In March 2021, Instagram launched "Live Rooms," letting four people go live together. Instagram also added new safety rules to prevent adults from messaging teens they don't follow.
In May 2021, Instagram allowed users in some regions to add pronouns to their profile. In December 2022, Instagram introduced "Notes," a feature for sharing short text updates with specific people.
In February 2023, Instagram allowed users to browse and post GIFs in comments. Also, Mark Zuckerberg announced that Meta would start selling blue "verified" badges on Instagram and Facebook.
On July 5, 2023, Meta launched Threads, a new social network connected to Instagram. Threads lets users share short text posts, photos, and videos, and talk with other users. It aims to be a competitor to Twitter.
In April 2024, Instagram announced new tools to fight harmful online activities involving private pictures. In December 2024, Instagram worked with the MTA to sell special Metrocards featuring creators.
How Instagram Works: Features and Tools
.jpg)
Instagram lets you upload photos and short videos. You can follow other users and add a location to your images. You can also make your account "private," which means you have to approve anyone who wants to follow you.
You can link your Instagram account to other social media sites to easily share your photos. Instagram offers many photographic filters to change how your pictures look. While photos used to be only square, now you can post them in different shapes.
Since December 2016, you can "save" posts to a private area in the app. Later, you could organize these saved posts into collections. You can also "archive" your own posts, hiding them from public view without deleting them. This helps you keep memories without worrying about how many likes they get.
In February 2017, Instagram allowed you to include up to ten pictures or videos in one post, which appear as a swipeable carousel. In April 2018, "focus mode" was added, which blurs the background of a photo or video to make the subject stand out. In November, Instagram started supporting "Alt text" to describe photos for people who are visually impaired.
On March 1, 2021, Instagram launched Live Rooms, allowing four people to go live together. In May 2021, a new feature allowed creators to add closed captions to their videos on Reels and Stories.
Using Hashtags to Explore
In January 2011, Instagram added hashtags. These are words or phrases starting with '#' that help you find photos and other users with similar interests. Instagram encourages using specific and relevant tags.
Users on Instagram have created fun "trends" with hashtags. For example, #SelfieSunday is for posting selfies on Sundays, and #ThrowbackThursday is for sharing old photos.
Since December 2017, you can follow hashtags to see relevant posts in your feed. In April 2023, the ability to search for "Recent" posts under hashtags was removed. Now, you only see a selection of "popular" posts.
The Explore Tab
In June 2012, Instagram introduced the "Explore" tab. This section shows you popular photos, posts from nearby locations, and helps you search for content. It was updated to feature trending topics, places, and curated content. The Explore tab also shows "Videos You Might Like" and "Events" from live happenings.
Sharing Videos
Instagram started as a photo-sharing app, but in June 2013, it added 15-second video sharing. This limit was later increased to one minute in March 2016. Albums, introduced in February 2017, allow you to share up to 10 minutes of video in one post.
Instagram Reels: Short Videos
Instagram Reels is a popular part of Instagram for sharing short, vertical videos, usually less than 90 seconds long. It has many features for users to interact. Reels are very popular, with billions of views daily. Creators can even earn money based on how many views their videos get.
Reels launched in Brazil in November 2019 and then expanded to other countries. It works much like TikTok, letting users create short videos with music and editing tools. In June 2022, Instagram increased the length of Reels to 90 seconds, and in January 2025, to three minutes.
Some studies suggest that watching many short, fast-paced videos like Reels can make it harder to focus on activities that need more attention, like reading. This is because these videos give quick bursts of excitement, which can make your brain want more of that fast stimulation. It's important to balance your screen time with other activities.
Instagram Direct: Private Messages
In December 2013, Instagram launched Instagram Direct, which lets users send private messages. These are often called "DMs." If you follow someone, you can send them private messages with photos and videos. If someone you don't follow messages you, it's marked as pending, and you have to accept it to see it.
A new update in November 2016 allowed users to send messages that "disappear" after being viewed. In April 2017, Instagram redesigned Direct to combine all private messages into one place. In April 2020, you could access Direct from the Instagram website.
In March 2021, a new safety feature was added: adults cannot message users under 18 who do not follow them. In August 2023, Instagram added more privacy settings. Now, you can only receive one direct message from accounts you don't follow until you approve the request.
In August 2016, Instagram launched Instagram Stories. This feature lets you take photos or videos, add effects, and share them as part of your "story." These images and videos disappear after 24 hours.
In November, Instagram added live video to Stories. You could broadcast yourself live, and the video would disappear right after it ended. In January 2017, Instagram started showing short ads between different stories.
Instagram Stories also added augmented reality stickers and face filters, letting you add fun visual effects to your face. In May 2017, "Location Stories" were introduced, showing public stories from specific places.
In June 2017, you could save your live broadcasts to your story for 24 hours. In July, you could reply to Stories with photos and videos. Stories became viewable on Instagram's mobile and desktop websites in August 2017.
On December 5, 2017, Instagram introduced "Story Highlights," which are like Stories but don't disappear. They appear as circles on your profile page. By June 2018, Instagram Stories had 400 million daily active users.
In December 2024, Instagram began testing a feature to help users find Story Highlights they might have missed from friends. These unseen Highlights appear at the end of the Stories tray.
Verified Badges on Instagram
Instagram introduced a verification feature, the blue verified badge, in December 2014. This badge helps confirm that an account is real and belongs to a public figure, celebrity, or well-known brand. It helps users know which accounts are legitimate.
In August 2018, Instagram allowed users to ask for verification for their accounts. To get a blue badge, accounts usually need to be notable, authentic, unique, and follow Instagram's rules. Instagram decides who gets verified.
In 2021, Meta (Instagram's parent company) launched paid verification. This allows eligible users to get a verified badge by paying a fee, in addition to meeting other criteria.
Advertising on Instagram
Instagram uses advertising to make money. In October 2013, Instagram announced that video and image ads would start appearing in users' feeds in the United States. These ads look similar to regular posts but are marked as "sponsored."
In March 2015, Instagram introduced "carousel ads," which let advertisers show multiple images or videos in one ad. By March 2017, Instagram had 1 million advertisers.
In May 2016, Instagram launched new tools for business accounts, including special profiles, analytics (to see how posts are doing), and the ability to turn posts into ads.
How Instagram Can Affect How You Feel
Instagram, like other social media, can sometimes make people feel different emotions. It's important to remember that what you see online isn't always the full picture.
Some studies have looked at how Instagram might affect how young people feel about themselves. For example, seeing many perfect-looking photos can sometimes make people compare themselves to others, especially regarding their appearance. This can sometimes make people feel less happy with how they look.
It's good to remember that many photos online are edited or show only the best moments. Not everything you see is real life. If you ever feel sad or worried because of what you see on Instagram, it's a good idea to talk to a trusted adult, like a parent or teacher. Taking breaks from social media can also help you feel better.
Some research also suggests that spending a lot of time on Instagram might be linked to feeling more anxious for some people. It's all about finding a healthy balance in how you use social media.
Who Uses Instagram and How
Instagram grew very quickly after it launched. It had 1 million users in December 2010 and reached 1 billion users by June 2018. Millions of photos and videos are uploaded every day.
Instagram Stories also became very popular, reaching 250 million active users by June 2017. Instagram Direct, for private messages, had 375 million monthly users in April 2017.
| Rank | Country | Users |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  India |
414 million |
| 2 |  United States |
172 million |
| 3 |  Brazil |
141 million |
| 4 |  Indonesia |
103 million |
| 5 |  Turkey |
58.5 million |
| 6 |  Japan |
57.5 million |
| 7 |  Mexico |
48.8 million |
| 8 |  United Kingdom |
33.4 million |
| 9 |  Germany |
31.3 million |
| 10 |  Argentina |
28.9 million |
Instagram is especially popular with younger people. Most of its users are under 35. Many people use Instagram to look at posts, connect with friends, and for fun. They enjoy the visual way Instagram lets them communicate.
Keeping Instagram Safe: Rules and Content
Like many social media sites, Instagram has rules to keep its platform safe. It uses computer programs, user reports, and human reviewers to find and remove content that breaks these rules. This includes very harmful and illegal content, as well as things like cyberbullying, hate speech, and false information.
Instagram sometimes removes content to prevent the spread of false information. For example, in October 2020, it temporarily removed the "recent" tab on hashtag pages to help stop the spread of false information during an election.
Instagram has also faced criticism for not always removing mean or hateful content, especially in different languages. The platform works to make sure its rules are applied fairly to all users and content.
Instagram in Different Countries
Some countries have different rules about what can be seen online, which can affect Instagram.
- China: Instagram has been blocked in China since 2014.
- Cuba: The Cuban government blocked Instagram during protests in 2021 to control information.
- Iran: Instagram was one of the last global social media sites available in Iran, but it was blocked permanently in September 2022.
- North Korea: Instagram was blocked in North Korea in 2015 after a fire incident, to prevent photos from spreading.
- Russia: In March 2022, Russia banned Instagram due to concerns about calls for violence on the platform.
- Turkey: Instagram was blocked in Turkey for nine days in August 2024 after a political event. The ban was lifted when Instagram agreed to work with authorities.
Instagram's Popularity: Fun Facts
| Name and username | Followers | Profession | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 Cristiano Ronaldo (@cristiano) | 640 million | Footballer | Portugal |
| #2 Lionel Messi (@leomessi) | 504 million | Footballer | Argentina |
| #3 Selena Gomez (@selenagomez) | 424 million | Singer, Actress | United States |
| #4 Kylie Jenner (@kyliejenner) | 396 million | Reality TV Star, Businesswoman | United States |
| #5 Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson (@therock) | 395 million | Actor, Producer, Wrestler | United States |
| #6 Ariana Grande (@arianagrande) | 376 million | Singer, Actress | United States |
| #7 Kim Kardashian (@kimkardashian) | 360 million | Reality TV Star, Businesswoman | United States |
| #8 Beyoncé (@beyonce) | 316 million | Singer, Actress, Businesswoman | United States |
| #9 Khloé Kardashian (@khloekardashian) | 306 million | Reality TV Star, Businesswoman | United States |
| #10 Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) | 294 million | Singer | Canada |
The photo with the most likes on Instagram is a carousel of pictures from footballer Lionel Messi celebrating his win at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. It has over 76 million likes!
In 2022, Instagram was the second most downloaded mobile app of the year.
How Instagram Works Behind the Scenes
Instagram is built using a computer language called Python. It also uses artificial intelligence to describe content for people who are visually impaired and use screen readers.
See also
In Spanish: Instagram para niños
- Criticism of Facebook
- Dronestagram
- Instagram face
- Instagram husband
- Internet celebrity
- List of social networking services
- Pheed
- Pixnet
- Timeline of social media
 | Victor J. Glover |
 | Yvonne Cagle |
 | Jeanette Epps |
 | Bernard A. Harris Jr. |
