Instagram Announces Plan to Show Ads in its Newsfeed
It seems like it was just yesterday that Instagram was brought into the social media world. It’s growing up so fast! But there comes a time in every app’s life when it has to follow an ad-supported business model-whether users like it or not- and with Twitter’s initial public filing release posing as a gigantic distraction, Intagram decided that the time is now.
Users may be a bit surprised at Instagram’s announcement to begin showing advertisements in its newsfeed, but we really should have seen this coming. Adding video capabilities into the mix was not only to compete Vine but to pave another avenue for advertisements. Either way, there is nothing we can do about it now but be very, very disappointed- and that’s the worst punishment, right?
Instagram was expecting this reaction from users, you can tell by the language used in the written announcement. The author tiptoes around the facts of the matter with indirect, drawn out sentences like, “In the next couple months, you may begin seeing an occasional ad in your Instagram feed if you’re in the United States.”
(I would imagine this was likely followed by *fingers crossed* “Please don’t be mad, please don’t be mad…”)
A more mature-sounding Instagram goes on to say that in the beginning stages it will only show ads every now and then and only from companies that are already members in good standing of the Instagram community. “Our aim is to make any advertisements you see feel as natural to Instagram as the photos and videos many of you already enjoy from your favorite brands. After all, our team doesn’t just build Instagram, we use it each and every day. We want these ads to be enjoyable and creative…”
