Instagram, Flickr’s Likely Successor / Cameron Moll / Designer, Speaker, Author

Instagram, Flickr’s Likely Successor

published 29 October 2010

In yesterday’s post about Flickr solving the wrong problem, I mentioned Instagram as the likely successor to Flickr.

Stephen Coles called me out on Twitter:

Instagram “the likely successor to Flickr”? Really? I don’t think they have any intention on replacing Flickr. 2 concepts.

Stephen’s point is valid, and I’m sure he’s not the only one questioning my logic. I don’t know that Instagram has any intention of replacing Flickr, either. But if Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger play their cards wisely, I think the outcome may be inevitable.

I’ve been a Flickr Pro user for several years, joining the site back in February 2005. At the time, Flickr had been around for less than a year. The notion of an online locale for posting and sharing photos was not certainly not a new one by then. Instead, what made Flickr popular was its ability to capture the attention and interest of skilled photographers around the world, as well as lay ones like myself, because of its ease of use and playful UI, the extensibility of its API data, and most importantly, a vibrant community.

Five years ago the world didn’t need another photo sharing site; it needed a photo community. Flickr fit in perfectly.

Fast-forward to 2010. Look around you. Everyone you know carries a mobile phone in their pocket with a camera somewhat comparable to the average point-and-shoot. They spare no expense sharing what they’re doing, seeing, and enjoying. Attention is even more fleeting now than it was five years ago, and ‘Like’ is cool with even the uncool kids. Community is now Social.

Instagram fits in perfectly.

Instagram has captured the same attention Flickr once captured, precisely because it addresses the now, the today, the relevant. And it does so in ways that are emotional, spontaneous, lightweight, and unique. (Try following danrubin, mikekus, simplebits, or splorp and see if you agree.)

Once upon a time, Flickr did that. But many of the individuals who lovingly crafted Flickr and fostered its community — Heather Champ, Cal Henderson, even Authentic Jobs contractor Myles Grant — have all moved on. Speaking with a few individuals in recent weeks confirms that what remains of Flickr’s culture today is not what existed in the beginning. It’s not unreasonable to believe Flickr’s days are numbered as the premiere photo community on the web. (Update: By tying the individuals mentioned here with my remarks about Flickr’s culture, I’ve insinuated that these individuals think poorly of Flickr. That was not my intent nor does it accurately express their feelings on the matter, as far as I’m aware.)

My opinions here may be premature, as Instagram has been publicly available not even 30 days already. But if Kevin and Mike add support for other devices, expand the content and options available on the desktop web, and continue to garner astounding numbers of users, I don’t believe I’ll be issuing a recall of this article anytime soon.

For related reading, see The Addictive Allure of Instagram by Faruk Ateş.