In April 2012 Facebook bought Instagram, the popular mobile sharing and editing photography app. Some popular Instagram features include hashtags and @tagging friends which can also sync across platforms such as on Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, etc. Users can enable one photo to post across various social media platforms. At best, an easily applied vintage filter can add some sophistication and enhance a photo, while critics of the app have argued that it destroys the integrity of quality images but for most it’s about sharing their lives, not engaging in photography as a profession. In the same way, Facebook updates and Blogs won’t destroy the news and industry of newspapers.
The takeover by Facebook was received with a level of skepticism within the Instagram community, most claiming they'd ruin it, as many feel Facebook has been. At the most recent TechCrunch conference in San Francisco, Facebook CEO and Creator Mark Zuckerberg laid these concerns to rest, claiming that there aren't any plans to "make them come into our infrastructure". All very well and good, or is it?
"Beauty can be seen in all things, seeing and composing the beauty is
what seperates the snapshot from the photograph.” - Matt Hardy
A quick search through the app store will tell you there are thousands of photo editing and sharing apps on the market, but I believe the conformity of pictures and relatively simple nature of time spent from taking a photo, to publishing one, make Instagram the weapon of choice at the moment for a lot of users. Don't get me wrong, the winds of change will soon be upon us. Just like Instagram is the Emperors New Clothes, something else will come along and claim the title of the social media app you just have to have; Snapchat and Cinemagram are already shooting up app charts as we speak, though some could claim both have some credit due to Instagram.
Update - It seems that a title contender could be closer than originally thought; only yesterday Twitter announced that they are to create an in-app photo editing and sharing service to complement its current 140 character format. The inclusion of a quick, simple, editable option when importing photos into Twitter could be the perfect solution the company are looking for to take some of the market-share away from the powerhouse of Instagram and Facebook.
I'll be interested to see just how similar Twitter's creation is to its predecessor and whether, like Instagram, photos will then be shareable back to sites like Tumblr and Facebook, although my suspicion is not. Whatever happens the fight for share of voice within the photo-sharing digital space is well and truly in full swing.
This leads me on nicely to my musical feature of this blog. Having followed aspiring hip-hop artist Kitty Cowell on Instagram for a while, it surprised me to bump into her on Carnaby Street, whilst trying to find a winter jacket, last weekend. It’s always a strange situation when the internet presents itself in real life but it was a nice surprise. Graduating from the British Academy of New Music, (alumni include Ed Sheeran and Rita Ora) Kitty has gone solo having previously worked with acts such as Example, Basement Jaxx and N-Dubz. Her blend of feisty rap and infectious choruses layered over hip-hop/dub beats is something fresh in the current climate of recycled pop. Her latest release ‘Headbang’ includes lyrics referencing her love for the metal and hardcore scene which I’m a big fan of. Keep your eyes out for this one.
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