Jeff Hirsh Read: May 2021
Inspiration: What is the story of Instagram?
Summary
Written with the help of ChatGPT, below is a brief summary to understand what is covered in the book.
“No Filter: The Inside Story of Instagram”, published in 2020 by author and journalist Sarah Frier, tells the story of the rise of Instagram, from its humble beginnings as a photo-sharing app to its current status as a major player in the tech industry. The book covers the experiences of the app’s founders, Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, as well as the key figures who helped shape its growth and success. Frier also delves into the business side of Instagram, including its acquisition by Facebook and the development of its advertising platform. Throughout the book, Frier discusses the impact that Instagram has had on the world of social media and its influence on popular culture. The book also examines the challenges and controversies that Instagram has faced, including issues related to privacy, censorship, and the impact of social media on mental health. Overall, “No Filter” offers a comprehensive and engaging look at the history and impact of Instagram.
Unedited Notes
Direct from my original book log, below are my unedited notes (abbreviations and misspellings included) to show how I take notes as I read.
Instagram first mobile app to achieve 1bn valuation, zuckerberg asked kevin systrom in 2005 to join FB to help with photos while still in college, jack dorsey and systrom become friends when systrom hired to intern at Odeo where dorsey worked, Odeo launch Twttr with dorsey CEO around 2005, Systrom start career at Google and leave 2008/09, start Burbn–people say where they were or planned to go so friends show up, Systrom sole founder Burbn but get Marc Andreessen to invest first, dorsey invest 25k early but Systrom worry need Burbn to pivot like Odeo to Twitter, dorsey huge promoter in early days largely to spite twitter ceo who outsted him Ev Williams who said instagram no good, Mike Krieger other founder behind scenes, instagram first to use “bug fixes and perf enhacements” bc updating so often not want to describe, instagram start minimalist and exclusive to build community and improve, insta first mobile app to get 1bn value, set precedent for m&a as let insta be separate and independent-ish, Snapchat founded by Evan Spiegel as frat bro, Snapchat to share funny teen moments (speigel called self a certified bro and pitched to brobible first about app—”ridiculous shit”), Zuck meet with Spiegel 2012 and threaten and then launch Poke to copy which flopped, Speigel turn down Zuck 3bn offer—Zuck just want to dominate, Spiegel want snap to be low pressure vs instagram—not best moment only, can chronicle with stories launch 2013 whole day, insta first ad was Michael Kors Nov 1 2013–only do one per day that systrom approve, instagram want corporate to stay invisible, instagram not add resharing to keep content personal and genuine and keep motivation to create (not just share others)—about the individual, instagram change businesses (interiors designed to be instagrammable, cater for pics), change cafes and restaurants and auditions, users think need to be perfect for insta which was bad as teens flock to snapchat where not feel need for perfection, 2016-17 zuck concerned instagram cannibalizing fb and fb caught in election scandals (zuck emotionally defend fb, say fb minutes more profitable despite users liking insta more), insta change to algo based feed (not chronological) then change comments to algo so verified and popular accounts appear higher (comment section becomes marketing arena to get seen for brands), instagram has boosted travel to record levels but also hurt retail as experiences sought over things, insta filters also lead to more plastic surgery (see self filtered and want it, sometimes not even possible bc just a filter), brazilian butt lift (kim k, suck of thigh or stomach fat and into butt but 3% of surgeons have patients die if injected to wrong gluteal muscle), insta deemed worst for teen mental health bc always comparing self to filtered images (systrom vision backfire here), insta fairly insulated from fb criticisms—come out russians get tons of insta likes but glosses over, Zuck seem to stifle insta growth once reach 1bn—not want it to overshadow fb (got rid of insta attribution on fb to see original post), systrom and krieger resign late 2019 and adam mosseri to “head of insta” (only one CEO), systrom and krieger not feel get independence needed, Mosseri is fb long time guy who insta liked,
