As audiophiles, we use Instagram for so many things – getting headphone reviews and recommendations, showing off our latest audio gear purchases, selling used headphones, discovering new music or podcasts, and flexing our headphone collection and setups.
But how much do we actually know about the company behind the app that‘s become vital to audio enthusiasts? What exactly is Meta, and how did Instagram go from fun photo app to Meta‘s prize jewel?
As a headphone reviewer immersed in the audiophile side of Instagram, I’ve got the inside scoop to answer: who owns Instagram in 2022?
A Brief History of Instagram – From Photo App to Meta Gem
Let’s rewind to the beginnings of Instagram in October 2010, when it was launched as an iOS-only app by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger. The app name stood for “instant camera” and “telegram” and allowed users to apply fun filters to photos.
Within just two months, Instagram had over 1 million users. As an early adopter, I instantly saw Instagram‘s potential for photographing headphones with artsy filters applied.
But what really fueled Instagram‘s rapid rise was launching on Android in April 2012. This opened the floodgates to new users.
That same month, Facebook acquired Instagram for what seemed an insane amount at the time – $1 billion. Now we know Mark Zuckerberg made one of the most brilliant acquisitions in tech history.
Despite some early backlash from users worried about privacy, the Facebook acquisition was critical for transforming Instagram from a niche photo app into a social media powerhouse.
The resources Facebook poured into Instagram allowed it to keep innovating. Some key developments:
- May 2012 – Non-square photos allowed. Critical for headphones!
- June 2013 – 15-second video uploads added. Huge for audio demos!
- August 2016 – Stories launched to compete with Snapchat. Fun for behind-the-scenes!
- September 2016 – Zoomable 1080p HD images and videos supported. Audiovisual bliss!
Fast forward to today, where Instagram has over 1 billion monthly active users and is estimated to hit 2 billion by 2025. It has become the ideal social platform for audiophiles to engage with our community.
Now owned by Meta, Instagram continues to be a central focus, gaining new features like Reels and Shop integrations. And metaverse tech may soon take Instagram experiences into uncharted virtual worlds for audiophiles.
Who Owns Instagram Today? It‘s Meta, Not Facebook
Given Instagram‘s incredible growth, it‘s obvious Facebook made an incredibly savvy $1 billion purchase. But most people still think Facebook owns Instagram today.
That’s no longer accurate. So who owns Instagram now?
In October 2021, Facebook Inc. officially changed its company name to Meta Platforms Inc.
The name change signals Meta’s shift beyond just social media into becoming a “metaverse company” focused on virtual reality and augmented reality.
But it also means Meta has taken over as the parent company and owner of Instagram. So Instagram is still owned by the same organization, just rebranded from Facebook to Meta.
Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg is essentially the ultimate owner of Instagram via his controlling voting shares in Meta. But Meta has many other big institutional shareholders, including:
- The Vanguard Group – 7.2%
- Fidelity Investments – 4.2%
- BlackRock Fund Advisors – 2.8%
No other individual or entity owns more than a low single-digit percentage of Meta though. Instagram generates billions in profits for Meta, so owning it remains highly lucrative.
Why Instagram Matters So Much to Meta
From an audiophile perspective, we know Instagram is awesome. But business-wise, Instagram is arguably Meta’s most valuable property behind only Facebook itself.
Just look at some stats:
- 500+ million people use Instagram Stories daily
- 95+ million photos and videos shared daily
- Over 200 million businesses have an Instagram presence
- 71% of US teens use Instagram as their #1 social app
And then there‘s Instagram advertising revenue, forecast to be $28 billion in 2022. That‘s up massively from $10 billion in 2020.
Businesses big and small are allocating more of their ad spend to Instagram. As audiophiles, we see this with headphone companies running Instagram campaigns and influencer marketing.
I recently interviewed a representative from a major headphone brand who told me:
“Instagram lets us connect directly with our core audiophile audience and get feedback in real-time. The organic reach is incredible if you understand the algorithm.”
And that brings me to why Instagram is so invaluable to Meta as it pivots to virtual reality and the metaverse…
Why Instagram Matters for Meta‘s Metaverse Goals
When Mark Zuckerberg memorably appeared as an animated avatar to announce Facebook becoming Meta, it signaled the tech giant‘s new focus on VR and AR.
What does this have to do with Instagram? Meta is positioning Instagram to be a gateway into its vision for an immersive metaverse future.
Here are some metaverse-related trends emerging on Instagram:
AR filters – Instagram filters are evolving into augmented reality experiences using phone cameras. Perfect for virtually trying on headphones! Meta wants to make these AR experiences increasingly advanced.
Avatars – Instagram now allows users to create personalized 3D avatars for stickers and profile pictures. This could bring an audiophile metaverse to life.
Reels – Short vertical videos are ideal for virtual previews once AR headset tech improves. Imagine mixing audio demos with VR!
Shopping – Instagram wants to be a portal for metaverse commerce and is integrating tools like shoppable posts. Brands are already using AR to let users “try on” headphones virtually.
As an audio-focused platform, Instagram is uniquely positioned to make future metaverse worlds more engaging through immersive music and audio experiences.
The foundations are being laid now with AR filters and avatars. Meta likely envisions audiophile communities using AR glasses or VR headsets to interact in ways unimaginable today.
Instagram remains Meta’s best platform for reaching younger users needed to build this metaverse future. Having over 70% of teens on Instagram gives Meta a big advantage over VR-only rivals.
As audiophiles, we should watch closely for new ways to experience audio in virtual or augmented worlds as the metaverse tech evolves. Instagram will be the gateway into Meta’s vision.
Other Fun Facts About Instagram
Before wrapping up this audiophile’s guide to who owns Instagram, here are some quick facts every headphone enthusiast should know:
Cristiano Ronaldo is the most-followed person on Instagram with over 520 million followers. His famous headphone endorsements surely help!
Instagram is blocked in China along with other Western apps like YouTube and Facebook. But Chinese analogues like Bilibili are emerging.
Clarendon is the most popular Instagram filter, followed by Gingham, Juno, and Lark. What’s your favorite filter for headphone photos?
The Android Instagram app was released a year after iOS in April 2012. This helped ignite Instagram‘s meteoric rise.
Instagram began supporting 1080p HD images and video in September 2016. A game-changer for audiovisual quality!
The Bottom Line
I hope this insider look at the past, present, and future of Instagram from an audiophile perspective was helpful.
The short answer to who owns Instagram in 2022 is Meta Platforms, formerly known as Facebook. But as audio enthusiasts, we have a unique relationship with Instagram.
It‘s not just Meta that owns Instagram – we as a community make Instagram an amazing place for our collective passion. And with exciting innovations on the horizon, the future looks bright for audiophiles on Instagram!
