If you’ve ever wondered when was Instagram created, the answer takes us back to 2010, long before Reels, Stories, influencers, and endless scrolling became part of everyday life. Instagram officially launched on October 6, 2010, created by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger as a simple mobile app built around sharing photos.
But Instagram didn’t start exactly as the platform we know today. Before the familiar name, filters, and square photos, there was an entirely different app called Burbn. What began as a small startup project quickly evolved into one of the world’s most recognizable social media platforms.
So, how did Instagram go from a simple photo-sharing idea to a global social network? Let’s look back at when Instagram was created, who created it, and the key moments that shaped its history.
When Was Instagram Created?
Instagram was created in 2010 by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger and officially launched on October 6, 2010. The app made its public debut exclusively on Apple’s iOS App Store, meaning it was initially available only to iPhone users.
In its earliest form, Instagram was much simpler than the platform we use today. It centered around sharing square photos, adding filters, and connecting with other users through likes and comments. There were no Stories, Reels, or many of the other features that now define the Instagram experience.
It’s also worth distinguishing between when Instagram was created and when it officially launched. Development began before October 2010, with early versions of the app being tested months before its public release. However, October 6, 2010, is generally recognized as Instagram’s official launch date.
Instagram Didn’t Start as Instagram — Meet Burbn
The story behind when Instagram was created actually begins with a very different app called Burbn. Before Instagram launched in 2010, Kevin Systrom had been developing Burbn as a mobile app that combined several social features, including location check-ins, sharing plans, and posting photos.
After Mike Krieger joined the project, the two founders took a closer look at how people were using Burbn. They noticed that users were especially interested in one feature: sharing photos. At the same time, the app had become complicated, with too many features competing for attention.
Instead of adding even more, Systrom and Krieger did the opposite. They stripped Burbn down and focused almost entirely on mobile photography. That simpler idea eventually evolved into Instagram.
So, when looking at when Instagram was created, Burbn is an important part of the story. Instagram’s success didn’t come from packing in more features—it started by making one experience, sharing photos, simple and enjoyable.
Who Created Instagram?
To fully understand when Instagram was created, it helps to know the two people behind the platform. Instagram was founded by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, who worked together to transform an early app called Burbn into the photo-sharing platform that launched in 2010.
Kevin Systrom
Kevin Systrom graduated from Stanford University and later worked at Google before pursuing his own startup ideas. He began developing Burbn, the app that would eventually evolve into Instagram. As the idea took shape, Systrom became Instagram’s co-founder and CEO, helping guide the platform through its rapid early growth.
Mike Krieger
Mike Krieger also attended Stanford University and joined Systrom while Burbn was still being developed. He played an important role in simplifying and rebuilding the product around photo sharing, ultimately helping turn it into Instagram. Krieger became Instagram’s co-founder and technical leader, overseeing much of the platform’s engineering and development.
One common misconception is that Facebook created Instagram. It didn’t. Instagram was created independently by Systrom and Krieger, and Facebook acquired the company later in 2012.
What Was Instagram Like When It First Launched?
When looking back at when Instagram was created, it’s surprising how simple the original app was compared with the platform we know today. When Instagram officially launched in October 2010, it was focused almost entirely on one thing: sharing photos.
Users could take or upload photos, crop them into Instagram’s recognizable square format, apply filters, and share them with followers. Basic social features such as likes, comments, and user profiles made it easy for people to interact around their photos.
Instagram was also initially available only on the iPhone, with Android users having to wait until 2012.
There were no Stories, Reels, Instagram Shopping, or today’s massive creator ecosystem. What started as a straightforward photo-sharing app would eventually grow into a much broader platform for photos, videos, messaging, creators, businesses, and entertainment.
Instagram Timeline: From 2010 to Today
Looking at Instagram’s major milestones makes it easier to understand when Instagram was created and how quickly the platform evolved. What began as a simple photo-sharing app in 2010 gradually expanded with video, Stories, Reels, messaging, and tools for creators and businesses.
| Year | Instagram Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2010 | Instagram is developed |
| July 2010 | The first Instagram photo is uploaded |
| October 2010 | Instagram officially launches |
| December 2010 | Instagram reaches around 1 million users |
| 2012 | Instagram launches on Android |
| 2012 | Facebook acquires Instagram |
| 2013 | Video sharing launches |
| 2016 | Instagram Stories launches |
| 2020 | Instagram Reels launches |
| 2021 | Facebook’s parent company becomes Meta |
| Today | Instagram includes photos, Stories, Reels, messaging, and features for creators and businesses |
Instagram has come a long way since its 2010 debut, and the platform continues to evolve with new features, creator tools, and changes to how content is discovered. If you want to see how the platform is changing today, explore the latest Instagram updates in 2026, including new features and algorithm changes.
Final Thoughts
So, when was Instagram created? Instagram was created in 2010 by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger and officially launched on October 6, 2010. What started as a simple idea focused on mobile photo sharing quickly grew into one of the most recognizable social media platforms in the world.
Instagram’s journey is even more interesting when you consider its beginnings. It evolved from Burbn, gained its first million users within months, expanded to Android in 2012, and was later acquired by Facebook. Features such as Stories, video, and Reels would eventually take the platform far beyond the square photos and filters that defined its early days.
More than a decade later, Instagram looks very different from the app that launched in 2010, but its history shows how a simple photo-sharing concept became a major part of modern social media.
FAQs
1. When Was Instagram Created?
Instagram was created in 2010 by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger and officially launched on October 6, 2010. It started as an iPhone-only app focused on sharing photos, applying filters, and connecting through likes and comments. While development began earlier in the year, October 6 is recognized as Instagram’s official launch date.
2. Who Created Instagram?
Instagram was created by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger. Systrom originally developed an app called Burbn, and Krieger later joined the project. Together, they simplified the original idea and focused on photo sharing, eventually turning it into the Instagram that launched in 2010.
3. What Was Instagram Originally Called?
Before Instagram, there was Burbn, a social app that included check-ins, location sharing, plans, and photos. Systrom and Krieger realized the app had too many features and decided to concentrate on photo sharing. They redesigned the experience and eventually renamed it Instagram.
4. What Was the First Instagram Post?
The first known Instagram photo was posted by Kevin Systrom on July 16, 2010, before the app’s official launch. It featured a golden retriever near a taco stand in Mexico, along with part of Systrom’s girlfriend’s foot. This means Instagram was already being tested months before its October release.