Close-up of a smartphone screen displaying Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook app icons, highlighting popular social media and messaging platforms
Instagram is 15 years old

Instagram is a free photo and video sharing app, where users can upload photos and videos to friends, family and members of the public.

The name is a combination of 'instant camera' and 'telegram'. Officially launched in 2010, it was initially only available for iOS. Over 25,000 users signed up on its first day.

Now there are roughly 2 billion global users and 35 millions users in the UK. It’s one of the most popular social media platforms out there, just behind Facebook and YouTube.

For the last 15 years, Instagram has been on our timeline. Can you remember every chapter in its story?

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Do you remember the old Instagram logo?

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  1. Instagram app icon featuring a vintage camera with rainbow stripe and white 'Instagram' text on a dark gradient background with bokeh light effects.

    Then

Instagram's launch logo featured a vintage Polaroid-type, instant camera, but it was swiftly changed that same year. Staying with the retro vibe of the camera, it was made to fit a square icon space. In 2016, the logo changed again to a more simplified, colourful and vibrant version.

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Instagram timeline

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  1. Close-up of a digital screen showing Facebook and Instagram app icons with 'Social Media' text above, highlighting popular platforms for online communication and content sharing.

    In 2012, Facebook (now Meta) bought Instagram for $1 billion.

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Published in October 2025