Instagram’s Growth and Evolution: A 2015 Snapshot
In 2015, Instagram experienced significant growth, solidifying its position as a major player in the social media landscape. Fueled by a growing user base and infrastructural improvements, the platform saw a surge in activity and engagement. This article examines Instagram’s state in 2015, focusing on its user numbers and the impact of its search infrastructure upgrade.
Instagram’s User Base in 2015
By September 2015, Instagram had surpassed Twitter in terms of active users, reaching over 400 million users [Forbes]. The platform added 100 million users in the nine months prior to that announcement, demonstrating a rapid growth trajectory.
The Impact of Facebook’s “Unicorn” Search Infrastructure
Early in 2015, Instagram migrated its search infrastructure to Facebook’s “Unicorn” system. This upgrade resulted in a substantial 65% increase in search traffic [Instagram Engineering]. The increase was attributed to both overall user growth and a 12% rise in the proportion of users utilizing the search function with each Instagram session.
Facebook’s Role
As a Facebook-owned company [Facebook], Instagram benefited from shared resources and technological advancements, such as the “Unicorn” search infrastructure. This collaboration played a key role in Instagram’s ability to scale and improve its services.
Key Takeaways
- Instagram reached 400 million users in September 2015, exceeding Twitter’s user base.
- The migration to Facebook’s “Unicorn” search infrastructure led to a 65% increase in search traffic.
- A 12% increase in search usage per user session was observed following the infrastructure upgrade.