Instagram’s Founders Have Reportedly Leaving Facebook

Instagram founders Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger resigned from the photo-sharing company today, and both plan to officially depart the company in the next few weeks, according to a report from The New York Times this evening. The founders apparently did not give a reason for their departure when they informed the company today that they’re resigning. But after growing the app to 1 billion users, conquering its archrival Snapchat, turning it into a massive advertising business, they may feel they’ve done their duty and are ready to tackle different challenges. Now, Systrom and Krieger’s exit may impact the social network’s ability to manage its ongoing crises around election interference, fake news, and a general public perception that Facebook is no longer healthy for society or democracy. Instagram has been positioned as a fast-growing and successful alternative to Facebook for teenage users and those disillusioned by Facebook’s privacy violations and its larger impact on digital life. Without Systrom and Krieger at the helm, Instagram may struggle to continue growing at its previous pace. Founded in 2010 by Stanford University graduates Systrom and Krieger, Instagram has grown from a photo-sharing service into a popular photo app used by more than 1 billion people each month. Facebook, which bought Instagram for $1 billion six years ago, has been busy integrating features made popular by Snapchat into the app, and those efforts have paid off. The social-networking giant said in November it counted 300 million daily active users using Instagram Stories, which lets people publish a series of photos and videos that disappear after 24 hours. Facebook representatives didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. You Might Also Like: Which Artists Should SpaceX Send to The Moon?