US: Facebook, Instagram partnership follows Google, YouTube’s path

Since Facebook acquired photo-sharing phone application Instagram for $1 billion this year, the social media giant’s approach to the buyout has been similar to the tactics used by Google when it bought YouTube in 2006, says one report. Facebook, according to accounts, has been relatively hands-off with Instagram as it aims to allow the photo app to grow independently. Similarly, Google helped aid the expansion of video site YouTube without micro-managing its new acquisition. Reports say executives at Instagram are cautious of its future since being bought-out by Facebook, as billion-dollar mergers in the tech industry are never certain; Instagram engineer Shayne Sweeny told the media that he was concerned Instagram would actually shut-down after the buyout and that the company would “just dissolve.” Instagram revealed earlier this month a new feature that allows users to record and share videos on its platform.

Full Content: Fast Company

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