The tech world is losing its sh*t right now!
Following Instagram‘s launch of new feature “Stories,” fans of the app’s competitor Snapchat took to Twitter to vent their frustrations and delight over the controversial change.
Related: Apple’s New Emojis Are More Diverse!
If you have any familiarity with Snapchat (think filters, doodles, and disappearing videos), then you’ll definitely be able to see the issue with IG’s new format. Some fans have even gone as far to dub the new update as “#Snapstagram”.
Well, if the shoe fits…
Incredibly, IG’s CEO Kevin Systrom essentially admitted to copying Snapchat in an interview with Tech Crunch, saying:
“… They deserve all the credit.”
Umm, wait… how is replicating an app legal? How did the Silicon Valley heavyweight pull this one off?
According to Systrom, IG is simply improving and adding to Snapchat’s addictive features, which is a common practice in the industry (Facebook does it all the time).
The CEO went on to explain:
“When you are an innovator, that’s awesome. Just like Instagram deserves all the credit for bringing filters to the forefront. This isn’t about who invented something. This is about a format, and how you take it to a network and put your own spin on it. Facebook invented feed, LinkedIn took on feed, Twitter took on feed, Instagram took on feed, and they all feel very different now and they serve very different purposes. But no one looks down at someone for adopting something that is so obviously great for presenting a certain type of information. Innovation happens in the Valley, and people invent formats, and that’s great. And then what you see is those formats proliferate.”
What an inneresting perspective. We wonder what Snapchat has to say about this industry jabber!
Despite Kevin’s defense, many fans are not down with what they’re calling a blatant “copy” of Snapchat.
Check out some angry tweets (below)!
So #Instagram is using a new feature exactly like #Snapchat kind of sad they have to copy them 😂
— Daniel Halawi (@dan9700) August 2, 2016
@instagram Seriously, invent, do not copy. This is stupid. #Snapchat
— Sébastien (@sebahstien) August 2, 2016
Hey @instagram, why? Just why? #Snapchat
— Morgan Cummings (@Mo12Cummings) August 2, 2016
Yikes! The shade is real!
On the other hand, some users are quite happy with the upgrade:
lol at least on #InstagramStories not everyone will be wearing that damn yellow crown with crackhead lipstick. #Snapchat
— Angel (@_angel218_) August 2, 2016
I hope for their sake snapchat has crazy new features up their sleeve. Blatant ripoff but #Snapstagram is pretty convenient and fun
— Tatiana Figueiredo (@tatfig) August 2, 2016
No reason to use snapchat anymore… Like Instagram so much better anyways├░┼╕ΓÇÿ┬Å├░┼╕┬Å┬╝├░┼╕ΓÇÿ┬Å├░┼╕┬Å┬╝├░┼╕ΓÇÿ┬Å├░┼╕┬Å┬╝├░┼╕ΓÇÿ┬Å├░┼╕┬Å┬╝├░┼╕ΓÇÿ┬ì├░┼╕┬Å┬╝ #Snapstagram #RIPsnapchat
— Sam Elliott (@TheElliott816) August 2, 2016
So, what are YOUR thoughts on this tech scandal? Voice your opinion on this controversy (below)!
P.S. You can view IG’s official announcement on the update HERE.
[Image via Instagram/Snapchat.]
-
Categories
