Instagram - www.instagram.com

Instagram

Instagram is an online mobile video-sharing, image-sharing and social networking service that allows its users to take pictures and videos and share them publicly or privately on the app, as well as through such other social networking platforms as Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and Flickr. It was created by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger and launched in October 2010 as a free mobile app. It rapidly gains popularity, with over 500 million monthly active users as of October 2016.

Originally, what makes Instagram distinctive is that it confined photos to a square shape similar to Kodak Instamatic and Polaroid SX-70 images, in contrast to the 4:3 aspect ratio typically used by mobile device cameras. Images can also be applied with a variety of effects through digital filters integrated into the app. According to its creator, Instagram is created to solve 3 problems:

1. Take professional-looking photos with little effort through awesome looking filters.
2. Share your moments on multiple platforms instantly.
3. Optimized for fast and efficient uploading.

In April 2012, Instagram was acquired by Facebook for about $ 1 billion in cash and stocks.

Instagram Sign Up

To create a new account from the app:

Step 1: Download and install the Instagram app from the Google Play Store (Android) or App Store (iOS).

Step 2: Open the app.

Step 3: Tap Sign up with email or phone number, then enter your email address or phone number and tap Next. 

You can also tap Log in with Facebook to sign up with your Facebook account. You will be prompted to log into your Facebook account.

Step 4: Fill out your profile info including your Full name and password. 

If you register with your email address, you will confirm your email address by clicking the confirmation link in the email sent by Instagram.

You can read this article for a more complete guide on how to create an Instagram account on Desktop and mobile: Instagram Sign Up.

Instagram Login

Step 1: Open the Instagram app on your mobile device.

Step 2: Tap Log in.

Step 3: Enter your email address, phone number, or username

Step 4: Enter your password.

Step 5: Tap Log In.

You can tap Log in as @"your name" to log into your Instagram account with Facebook.

Check this out for a more comprehensive guide: Instagram Sign In.

Features

A. Filters

One of the things that make Instagram popular when it came out was its filter system. After taking pictures with the app, users can immediately apply them with a wide range of digital photographic filters to produce professional-looking photographs with little to no effort.

At the moment, Instagram offers 36 filters at your disposal.

B. Videos

The video-sharing feature debuted on Instagram in June 2013, allowing videos with a 640x640 fixed resolution and 15-second limit in length. Now, videos can be up to 1080p in resolution and 60 seconds in duration.

C. Instagram Stories

On August 2, 2016, Instagram launched a new feature called Instagram Stories. Instagram Stories allows users to share photos and videos, which will disappear after 24 hours and won’t appear on the user's profile grid or in their feed. Photos and videos from stories can also be saved and shared to the feed.

D. Instagram Direct

Instagram Direct is a private photo-sharing, video-sharing as well as messaging feature that was launched in December 2012.