Insta

Insta, short for Instagram, is a social media platform for sharing photos and videos. It was launched in 2010 by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger and is owned by Meta Platforms, Inc. The service began as a mobile photo-sharing app with built-in filters, and expanded to Android in 2012, later adding video, stories, and messaging capabilities.

Core features include a user profile feed for posts, Stories that disappear after 24 hours, direct messaging, and the Explore page for discovering content. In 2020, Instagram introduced Reels, a feature for short-form videos. The platform also supports shopping features that let users tag products in posts and stories, and an advertising platform that serves targeted ads to users.

Usage and ecosystem: Instagram is used by individuals, creators, brands, and media organizations for personal sharing, marketing, and audience engagement. Content quality, aesthetics, and engagement cues influence the ranking of posts in the feed, and creators use analytics and monetization tools to grow audiences.

Impact and concerns: Instagram collects data for advertising and personalisation, which has raised privacy and security concerns. The platform has faced scrutiny over content moderation, misinformation, copyright, and its effect on mental health and body image, particularly among younger users. Meta periodically updates policies and safety features to address these issues.

Global reach and access: Insta is widely used worldwide across mobile devices and the web, with billions of monthly active users. It plays a significant role in modern photography, influencer culture, marketing, and digital communication.