Instagram Co-Founders Step Down From Company

Instagram co-founders, Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, will step down from their 8-year position with Facebook in the coming weeks, reported by the NY Times. The two are looking to “explore curiosity and creativity again,” according to co-founders statement.

The co-founders reportedly resigned amid growing tensions revolving the Facebook founder and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, regarding Instagram’s future, according to Bloomberg News. Instagram was founded in 2010 as a location check-in app called Burbn. Systrom and Krieger met at a fellowship program at Stanford University. The app grew popularity in Silicon Valley, Calif. The app had hopes of turning everyday people into amateur photographers, stressing the use of iPhones and Android-based smartphones. Instagram caught Facebook’s eye and was purchased for $1 billion in cash and stock in 2012.

Mike Krieger (left) and Kevin Systrom (right), attend the Webby Awards in 2012 in New York

Their departure came during troubling times with Facebook. The company has been working to gain their user’s trust in the midst of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. These problems have been taking a toll on Facebook’s business. In July, the company announced that their digital advertising sales and number of users have dramatically slowed down.The company has even lost other businesses it has acquired. In April, Jan Koum, a Facebook board member and WhatsApp founder, announced his resignation. Facebook  acquired WhatsApp in 2014. Mr. Koum was concerned about Facebook’s user data.

According to the NY Times, their departure also came amid “executive shuffling” at Facebook. Earlier this month Facebook announced former Instagram Chief Operating Officer (COO), Marne Levine, would return to the app to oversee global partnerships. Levine replaced former Facebook executive, Dan Rose, who announced he was stepping down as vice president.

After Facebook acquired Instagram, Systrom and Krieger were able to grow their app to more than 1 billion users, becoming one of the fastest-growing products in Facebook’s series of apps. The launch of instagram stories two years ago even raised competition from Snapchat users.

Despite the company’s controversies, Systrom and Krieger both remained “excited for the future of Instagram and Facebook.”

Facebook will be the sole owner of Instagram. In a statement made by Zuckerberg,”I’ve learned a lot working with them for the past six years…I wish them all the best and I’m looking forward to see what they build next.”