Facebook, Instagram chatter: By the numbers
Facebook's $1 billion purchase of Instagram on Monday stirred up plenty of chatter as soon as the news broke.
The discussion ranges from questions about Instagram's actual value to whether or not the popular indie photo-sharing app had sold out. Let's take a look at some of the initial responses. That breaks down to the following opinions:
- 5 percent expressed that they were were in favor of the purchase itself
- 4 percent expressed that they were looking forward to the collaboration
- 3 percent expressed general positive sentiment towards the news
For starters, apparently only 12 percent of Twitter users expressed positive sentiment about the acquisition, according to social media analytics firm Crimson Hexagon.
Nevertheless, that doesn't mean the rest of those tweeting about the merger had negative things to say. Actually, 52 percent of the related tweets expressed were neutral, with users either expressing shock over the acquisition or simply sharing news of the announcement.
Out of the remaining 35 percent of naysayers, the backlash ranged from general disappointment in Instagram to users threatening to delete their accounts.
Nevertheless, there is room for evidence that at least Facebook made the right decision here.
According to marketing research firm Experian Hitwise, Instagram received more than 10 million total U.S. visits during March 2012, making it the third most popular sharing site in the United States behind Flickr and Photobucket. Furthermore, the total visits to Instagram have increased by more than 1,000 percent since December 2011.
There might be initial outrage now and threats to delete Instagram accounts, but so long as both companies manage to retain Instagram's core identity and market that brand consistently, they'll likely ride out the storm well enough.
Chart via Crimson Hexagon
Related news about Facebook's purchase of Instagram:
- Six new photo filters Facebook should add to Instagram
- Does Facebook's purchase of Instagram ensure the photo app will come to Windows Phone now?
- Facebook buys Instagram: It's not about the photos or filters
- Why Facebook acquired Instagram for $1 billion
- Delete Your Instagram Account and Keep Your Photos
- Instagram co-founder turned down a job from Mark Zuckerberg
- Facebook going public on May 17/24, based on Instagram (rumor)
- 10 ways Instagram is to Facebook as YouTube was to Google