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Facebook and Instagram are social media platforms operated by Meta Platforms, Inc. They began as separate services—Facebook in 2004 and Instagram in 2010—and are now part of Meta, the corporate umbrella that also coordinates advertising, commerce, and developer tools across the two apps. The services share infrastructure and are increasingly integrated in features, data workflows, and business tools, while maintaining distinct user experiences centered on social networking (Facebook) and visual sharing (Instagram).

Facebook acquired Instagram in 2012. In the ensuing years, features such as Stories, direct messaging, and shopping experiences were introduced on both platforms and further integrated to enhance cross-service use. From around 2019 to the present, messaging between the apps has been merged in many regions, and advertisers and creators have gained access to unified tools through Meta’s business platforms, including the Meta Business Suite and the Instagram Graph API.

Key features and use cases include posting photos and videos, Stories, Reels, and live video on both platforms, with Instagram emphasizing visual storytelling and shopping, and Facebook emphasizing the news feed, Groups, Events, and Marketplace. Both support advertising, analytics, monetization options for creators, and commerce features such as Shops on Instagram that enable product discovery and checkout experiences. Cross-platform campaigns and unified ad management allow advertisers to reach audiences across Facebook and Instagram.

Privacy and data considerations are central to the platforms’ operations. Data sharing between Facebook and Instagram enables targeted advertising and measurement, drawing scrutiny from regulators and privacy advocates. Users can adjust linked account settings, data access, and ad preferences, though changes in policy and enforcement continue to be a topic of public discussion. The platforms have also faced ongoing debates over content moderation, misinformation, and competition concerns.