Half of businesses on Instagram use Stories as it turns 1

by The Net Today · August 2, 2017

Instagram Stories has blossomed from a Snapchat clone into an integral part of the world’s largest dedicated visual communication app in the first year since its launch. Half of the businesses on Instagram produced a story in the last month, and its boosted the app’s average usage to 32 minutes per day for those under 25, and 24 minutes per day for those 25 and up.

If Facebook’s goal was stop Snap in its tracks, it’s largely succeeded with Instagram Stories. Snapchat’s monthly active user growth rate has plummetted from 17.2% per quarter to just 5%, while Snap’s share price has fallen from its $17 IPO to $13.

It’s clear to see why. Instagram has stolen some of its primary use cases and party tricks. Instagram’s most popular augmented reality filter is the same as the Snap one it copied: virtual puppy ears. Meanwhile, it keeps iterating with new features and sticker packs, like this one to celebrate Instagram Stories’ first birthay