#Instagram co-founders Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger will no longer be doing it for the ‘Gram in the literal sense.
The two confirmed that they are leaving the company, and stepping down as the chief executive and chief technical officer of the app on Monday night, following a report from #NewYorkTimes.
The @instagram journey is one I won't forget. It started by building simple products that solved universal problems. Now eight years we look back and are proud and grateful to have been part of that journey. Thank you to the entire community as we move on for now.
— Kevin Systrom (@kevin) September 25, 2018
The app was founded 8 years ago in 2010, and #Facebook became their parent company for $1 billion in 2012. They are not the first founders who will be leaving their business after being acquired by Facebook, as the #WhatsApp founder did the same.
Over 8 years ago, Kevin and I started Instagram, hoping to build something that would bring out people’s creativity and spirit for exploration. Now it’s time for the next chapter. A huge thank you to everyone in the community who we’ve met along the way. https://t.co/9Omyj6VHbe
— Mike Krieger (@mikeyk) September 25, 2018
There’s no telling what the future of the ‘Gram looks like without the co-founders in place, seeing as their parent company #Facebook’s been going through some thangs! Kevin nor Mike has said exactly why they’re stepping down, however, in a statement to #Buzzfeed Kevin said:
Mike and I are grateful for the last eight years at Instagram and six years with the Facebook team. We’ve grown from 13 people to over a thousand with offices around the world, all while building products used and loved by a community of over one billion. We’re now ready for our next chapter.
We’re planning on taking some time off to explore our curiosity and creativity again. Building new things requires that we step back, understand what inspires us and match that with what the world needs; that’s what we plan to do.
We remain excited for the future of Instagram and Facebook in the coming years as we transition from leaders to two users in a billion. We look forward to watching what these innovative and extraordinary companies do next.
TSR STAFF: Thembi! @ThembiTV_
