Why the Instagram founders really quit • Hacker News Board

Re: Why the Instagram founders really quit

#31

Post by rdlecler1 » Wed, Apr 17, 2019, 2:24 PM UTC

morley wrote: post #28

ineedasername wrote: post #23

This article was based on another one written by Wired. [0] That much longer article is well worth the read for a more in-depth look at the politics and challenges that Facebook has gone through recently. [0] https://www.wired.com/story/facebook-mark-zuckerberg-15-mont...

The linked Verge article has some strange editorialization in it. I find it confusing, because I'm not sure what they're getting at. > Systrom then immediately peaced out for a few months of paternity leave. > With Systrom on leave, Facebook began testing location tracking and a disgusting hamburger button inside Instagram, offending Systrom’s delicate sensibilities. Is the author saying that Systrom was being to sen…

Yes, some poor word choice for journalism. “aesthetic sensibilities” would have had fewer negative connotations.

Re: Why the Instagram founders really quit

#32

Post by golergka » Wed, Apr 17, 2019, 2:29 PM UTC

strict9 wrote: post #27

Instagram remains enormously popular because it's not exclusively 1:1 mutual relationships, has a minimal interface/feature set, and most importantly isn't easily susceptible to outrage and anger gawking like twitter/FB are. They can keep adding hamburgers and FB thirst traps but as long as they don't mess with central idea (big photos only with captions) they won't cede share any time soon.

The app design makes it harder to repost something and nudges you to post your original content about your daily life. Casual, low-key, not polished every day life stories from friends and even people I don't know that well are the main reason I open Instagram, and unlike the main feed (where everything is polished and photoshopped), it feels authentic.

Re: Why the Instagram founders really quit

#33

Post by mathattack » Wed, Apr 17, 2019, 2:39 PM UTC

scott_s wrote: post #19

chmod775 wrote: post #2

So they crippled a better performing product to protect a lesser product - or rather to protect some egos. I refuse to believe they are that stupid.

It looks stupid because you're assuming all actors have the same goal: make the company they work for the "best," however that is measured. But that's often not the goal of executives. They are often more interested in protecting and gaining power.

Principal-Agent problem. :-) The interests of managers frequently diverge from the owners, and even each other. You see this with execs sub-optimizing for their personal metrics (or size of empire) at the expense of the whole.

Offering equity helps, but if people’s contribution doesn’t impact the stock price, there is less incentive to act holistically.

Re: Why the Instagram founders really quit

#34

Post by jackfrodo » Wed, Apr 17, 2019, 2:42 PM UTC

morley wrote: post #28

ineedasername wrote: post #23

This article was based on another one written by Wired. [0] That much longer article is well worth the read for a more in-depth look at the politics and challenges that Facebook has gone through recently. [0] https://www.wired.com/story/facebook-mark-zuckerberg-15-mont...

The linked Verge article has some strange editorialization in it. I find it confusing, because I'm not sure what they're getting at. > Systrom then immediately peaced out for a few months of paternity leave. > With Systrom on leave, Facebook began testing location tracking and a disgusting hamburger button inside Instagram, offending Systrom’s delicate sensibilities. Is the author saying that Systrom was being to sen…

The primary definition of delicate: fine in texture, quality, construction, etc.: a delicate lace collar.

I read it as a compliment.

If he had said "delicate ego" it'd be a different story.

Re: Why the Instagram founders really quit

#35

Post by JustSomeNobody » Wed, Apr 17, 2019, 2:44 PM UTC

blunte wrote: post #26

I predict that Zuckerburg, when he's old and seeking new prestige, will abandon his (dirty) capitalistic activities and take on the philanthropist persona that many other tech giants (who we often forget the dirty methods they used to reach their heights) have. The EU, with its often absurd laws (re: link tax, cookie rules) may be the only threat to the juggernaut that Facebook is (and by extension, the power that a…

> ... and take on the philanthropist persona that many other tech giants (who we often forget the dirty methods they used to reach their heights) have.

No, I think he'll be like the ones who don't. He'll take on some expensive hobby and claim it is for the greater good.

Re: Why the Instagram founders really quit

#36

Post by graeme » Wed, Apr 17, 2019, 2:52 PM UTC

bastawhiz wrote: post #5

javagram wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Facebook app probably has better ad revenue potential? I just opened up instagram and scrolled through for a bit and I didn’t see a single ad. Seems very different from the Facebook experience.

I don't know which Instagram you're using, but every two or three posts for me is an ad. The "second person's story" when watching stories is an ad. Instagram has, by far, more ads than any other app that I use.

Mine used to be completely devoid of adds, and then all of a sudden every 2-3 posts became an add, and the second story - just like yours.

I don't know how I had a glorious ad free instagram, but some people do. At the time mine was ad free, others complained of constant ads.

Re: Why the Instagram founders really quit

#37

Post by Inhalt » Wed, Apr 17, 2019, 2:54 PM UTC

ineedasername wrote: post #23

This article was based on another one written by Wired. [0] That much longer article is well worth the read for a more in-depth look at the politics and challenges that Facebook has gone through recently. [0] https://www.wired.com/story/facebook-mark-zuckerberg-15-mont...

Thanks for linking to this, the story is interesting without a shadow of a doubt. From Verges point of view looks like Zuckerberg has a clear tendency to be monopolistic personality, which is sort of typical for huge CEOs. Currently reading on Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos scam, control freak to say the least.

Re: Why the Instagram founders really quit

#38

Post by goatherders » Wed, Apr 17, 2019, 2:55 PM UTC

Not seeing the meat on the bone here. It's quite normal at large companies for interview requests to be approved by someone. It's quite normal for infrastructure, support, tooling, resources to get moved around a lot. It's quite normal for people in one department to be irked at the (perceived) extra attention another department receives.

I'm not FB fan but I'm pretty sure MZ isn't jealous of the growth of anything.

Re: Why the Instagram founders really quit

#39

Post by mcguire » Wed, Apr 17, 2019, 2:55 PM UTC

ineedasername wrote: post #23

This article was based on another one written by Wired. [0] That much longer article is well worth the read for a more in-depth look at the politics and challenges that Facebook has gone through recently. [0] https://www.wired.com/story/facebook-mark-zuckerberg-15-mont...

"Questions I'm going to investigate..."

By reading Wired.

Re: Why the Instagram founders really quit

#40

Post by duxup » Wed, Apr 17, 2019, 2:56 PM UTC

chmod775 wrote: post #2

So they crippled a better performing product to protect a lesser product - or rather to protect some egos. I refuse to believe they are that stupid.

History is full of awkward acquisitions and politics where business decisions are made poorly and for all the wrong reasons.