Instagram has only been around for eight years, with co-founders Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger launching the photo-sharing social network exclusively for iOS in late 2010. Since then, the service has grown to support over a billion users speaking 36 languages, and along the way got acquired by Facebook for a $1 billion in cash and stock. Now, Systrom and Krieger are leaving.
In a statement posted on Instagram's info center, Systrom points to the massive growth of Instagram over its lifetime so far. What was a venture employing 13 people grew to over a thousand, but this is the sudden and surprising end for the duo that started it all and we've been left wondering why.
The statement gives little away other than to suggest either things weren't going very well or the co-founders are simply bored of working within such a huge company. They are "ready for our next chapter" and want to "explore our curiosity and creativity again." They clearly want to build something new, but it "requires that we step back."
Systrom and Krieger say they are grateful for their time at Instagram and Facebook and are excited about the future of both social networks. There's no mention of individuals at Facebook though, in particular Mark Zuckerberg is not referenced at all. Should we read anything into that?
As The New York Times points out, the co-founders informed Facebook of their decision to leave yesterday, and they will depart within a few weeks. Zuckerberg simply wished them all the best for the future and is "looking forward to seeing what they build next." Who knows, maybe he'll buy whatever that is, too. For now, his main concern will be finding someone else to run Instagram as well as Systrom and Krieger did.