Instagram

The site was launched in October of 2010 as a free social network based photo-sharing program that enables users with a valid account to immediately take, apply a digital filter or hastag, and then instantly share a photo on their profile page. Initially Instagram was only supported on the Apple iPod, iPod Touch, or the iPad but in April 2012 expanded its support for Android platforms running Frovo 2.2 or higher.

This took place about the time that Facebook bought the application for a reported $300 million in cash and 23 million shares of stock and within days before they went public. At the time, Mark Zuckerberg stated that they were committed to improving and growing Instagram independently of other Facebook functionality. Although, in the past Facebook has been known to absorb other start-ups they have purchased, using their functionality and reassigning original staff within the company.

After only a month after Facebook took it over, it was reported that a new user was added and that 58 images were being uploaded every second. Since its launch in 2010 more than one billion photos have been added to the site.