By Nitasha Tiku 2/15 10:50am

How White Was Your Valley

Screen shot 2013-02-15 at 10.06.00 AM

Among Internet Users, Black People Use Instagram and Twitter More Than White People

The Pew Internet & American Life Project released a new survey on the demographics of social media users yesterday.  The nonprofit, nonpartisan “fact tank” says its findings are the “first reportable” survey that it’s put out comparing whites, African-Americans and Latinos on Pinterest, Instagram and Tumblr.

But if you’ve been paying attention to shifting demographics, the results shouldn’t surprise you. Read More

By Kelly Faircloth 2/08 10:52am

Heads Up

WHY (Photo: gilbertofilho

Instagram Is Not an Ecommerce Platform, Furby Fans Learn the Hard Way

The Associated Press reports that, “Thailand’s craze for the fluffy, owl-like robotic toy “Furby” has led to an online scam that cost dozens of victims a combined $200,000.” A teenager who posted an ad on Instagram took their money, but did not deliver the Furbies as promised.

How something that looks like a Satanic alien kitten could inspire such devotion remains a mystery.

(h/t The Daily Dot)

By Kelly Faircloth 2/08 9:30am

Stormy Weather

Via Smile, It Looks Good on You

Vine, Seamless, and ‘Say Yes to the Dress’: An Internet Preparedness Kit for Snowstorm Nemo

You’d think after Hurricane Sandy, nothing short of the actual apocalypse could rattle New Yorkers. And yet, if Twitter is any indication, it seems there’s a fair bit of panicky flailing happening around the city right now. Well, buck up, because we’ve assembled a complete Internet preparedness kit featuring everything you might possibly need.

Maybe also buy some batteries, though?  Read More

By Jessica Roy 1/23 9:14am

Gram It

(Photo: Instagram / Benjimanfood)

NYC Chefs Hate Your Food Instagrams as Much as Everyone Else

Food pics have long been the poster child of photo apps like Instagram. Crammed between the selfies and the screencaps of inspirational quotes, photos of food porn have become so ubiquitous that most of us scroll right by them without a second thought. But NYC chefs–particularly those steadfastly mounted upon Michelin-starred high horses–are beginning to foment a revolution against the Instagramming masses. Read More

By Kelly Faircloth 9:45am

Hipster Rage

REMAIN CALM. (Photo: screencap)

Remain Calm! Instagram Releases Monthly Active User Number

When Instagram released its new terms of service back in December, users flipped their shit so hard that many of them swore they were giving up the service entirely. But anyone actually live up those promises? The New York Post said so. Based on stats from AppData, which only counts accounts linked to Facebook, the paper reported that daily active users had dropped from 16.4 million to 12.4 million as of December 29.

But those numbers got so much coverage that Instagram, which rarely pulls up the curtain, felt compelled to counter claims it’s hemorrhaging users. AllThingsD reports the company has added a number to the list of stats on its press page: 90 million monthly active users. Boo-yah? Read More

By Jessica Roy 12/28/12 12:25pm

Faux Outrage

(Photo: Instagram)

Reports That Instagram Lost 25 Percent of Active Users Are Greatly Exaggerated

“Rage Against Rules,” declares a bolded headline in The New York Post today, which collected stats from App Data to paint a portrait of a flailing Instagram. The Post claims that following the terms of service debacle, which supposedly had both normals and celebrities fleeing the app, Instagram’s total active users has plunged 25 percent.

The app reportedly peaked at 16.4 million daily active users the week of Dec. 17, but has decreased to 12.4 million as of Dec. 27. Read More

By Nitasha Tiku 12/24/12 3:15pm

Terms of Disservice

ClaytonCubitt

Have Yourself a Very Litigious Christmas: Instagram Sued for Changes to Its Terms of Service

All those calming platitudes from Kevin Systrom haven’t silenced the blowback over recent changes to Instagram’s terms of service. Reuters broke the news that a class action lawsuit was filed against Instagram this past Friday in San Francisco federal court.

The complaint (below) was filed on behalf of a California Instagram user named Lucy Funes “and all others similarly situated.” It accuses Instagram of a breach of contract for violating the convenant of good faith and fair dealing, among other allegations, and demands a jury trial. Read More