Episode Details

In this episode of pplpod, we double-tap into the history and complex legacy of Instagram, the social networking giant owned by Meta Platforms. We trace the app's journey from its 2010 origins as a check-in prototype called Burbn to its massive $1 billion acquisition by Facebook just two years later.

Join us as we break down how the platform has aggressively evolved to survive, shifting from its signature square photos to copying competitors with features like Stories (Snapchat) and Reels (TikTok). We also explore the controversies behind the aesthetic, including:

• Mental Health: The internal research and external studies linking Instagram usage to anxiety, depression, and body image issues, particularly among teenage girls.

• The Algorithm: The contentious shift from chronological feeds to algorithmic recommendations and the 2022 user backlash to "Make Instagram Instagram Again".

• Censorship: How the platform handles content moderation, from the "Free the Nipple" campaign to political dissent in countries like Iran and Turkey.

Tune in for a deep dive into the app that changed how we see the world—and ourselves.