In yesterdays Tuesday Tech Take, our writer Kimberly discussed the mammoth deal between Facebook and Instagram and how she believes the deal could improve both Instagram and Facebook alike. I, on the other hand, worry about how Facebook could potentially ruin one of my favourite apps and social networks. Some people have taken a, shall we say, more intense approach to the deal that has netted Instagram around $1 billion.
In the backlash, loyal fans of the site have accused Kevin Sytrom (Instagram founder) and the other Instagram decision makes of ‘Selling out’ by selling the company to Facebook. People have been quoted as saying “I had a higher opinion of you Instagram” and “Pray 4 Instagram”. A campaign (yes, a campaign) was started to delete your Instagram on Friday 13th in an event dubbed ‘InstaExodus’… huh, cute. The first thing that springs to mind when I read this type of comments is “seriously people, get a grip!”
How can anyone think Instagram have sold out? They barely make any money, the whole company is run by 13 people and they have just made $1 BILLION. Just think about that figure for a minute. $1,000,000,000. If you started a company, the company became popular but you were struggling to make any money from it, there isn’t a single person out there that wouldn’t sell it for a shred of that amount. Lets not forget that they will also now be working for one of the largest companies in their field AND upgrade their Volvo’s for Porsches’.
Yes I have my reservations about the deal, but Kimberly was spot on with the points she made and it actually made me feel better about the whole thing. Instagram WOULD be better with more filters. Facebook WOULD be cool if you could add filters on the site. Surely people should wait to find out Facebook’s plans before they jump ship? Doesn’t that make sense? Mind you, judging by some of the comments I’ve read, sense might be a foreign word to the majority of them.
I think with FB is the fact that they have ownership of the photos….. I’m very particular what goes where with me and mine. I know I’m in many a persons instagram photo that never went on FB. Now it’s there due to a buy over and I’ve no say in the matter. They have photos of me whether I like it or not. For me it shows that eventually nothing will be private as everything can be bought over. THAT worries me the most
I understand what you are saying but really is anything private when its on the Internet? I think if you use any type of web-based application you have to be prepared for the eventuality that someone, somewhere, will be able to get their hands on it. I’m not for a second stating that I agree with that, but its an unfortunate side-effect of the times we live in.