Skip to main content

Facebook to add photo filters, takes on Instagram

Image used with permission by copyright holder

In the latest chapter of Facebook’s never-ending quest to take over all aspects of sharing online, the company has decided to add a photo-filter service to its mobile app.

According to Nick Bilton at the New York Times blog, the feature will be integrated into Facebook’s mobile app. Apparently it’s been ready for awhile now, but CEO Mark Zuckerberg wants to add even more filters than the 12 already developed before the feature is launched.

Recommended Videos

It’s a square shot at Instagram, whom Facebook was rumored to have tried (and failed) to acquire this summer. Facebook’s feature will have the same old-timey film filters that’s made Instagram so popular, along with a few new styles that it hopes will set it apart. Additionally, Instagram has yet to release an Android app, which will likely be a boon for Facebook’s service. But more than anything, Facebook is hoping that its massive market presence – there is no app more popular than Facebook’s – and its base of photo-loving users will make the feature a quick success.

But can the company really steal market share from Instagram? The jury’s out. Instagram has one of the highest rated apps in the market, and its user base has exploded to over eight million in less than a year. Instagram already has a very solid community built around the app, which makes it even more difficult for Facebook to sway people away from it.

Additionally, Instagram has the added cachet of coming out first. It has stamped its name as the photo filter app (anyone remember Hipstamatic?), which means Facebook will have a harder time convincing people its feature will be anything but a copy. Facebook’s attempt to take over Foursquare with check-ins and location mapping hasn’t really taken off, partly because Foursquare already had a rock-solid app with a thriving community.

But the likely outcome is that both Facebook and Instagram’s apps will be a success. Instagram’s big enough now, and has such an attractive user interface, that it’d be a surprise to see it go anywhere. Facebook, with its huge market share and photo-hungry users, will doubtlessly find fans in the new feature. One thing’s for sure: there are going to be a whole lot more digital lo-fi images coming to social networks in the near future.

Derek Mead
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Instagram just got a lot safer for teens
Instagram app running on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5.

It's normal to worry about kids and teens on the internet, especially on social media platforms. In an attempt to make things easier, Instagram has become significantly safer for younger users with the addition of Teen Accounts.

These accounts feature built-in protections that limit teens' exposure to certain content and restrict who can contact them. All existing accounts for users younger than 16 will be moved to teen accounts, and a parent's permission will be needed to change any of the settings.

Read more
Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Lightroom: Which should you choose to edit your photos?
project felix lighting tool adobe beta

Within Adobe's Creative Cloud Suite, there are two programs designed specifically with photographers in mind: Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Lightroom.

At first glance, these two programs might appear redundant, as they're both made with the goal of editing photographs of all kinds. But the truth is, each program is designed with a different purpose in mind, and each offers a distinct post-production photography workflow.
Photoshop vs. Lightroom
In the most simple terms, Adobe Photoshop is effectively a digital darkroom, where you can make detailed adjustments and alterations to any kind of image. Adobe Lightroom, on the other hand, is closer to an entire photography studio, as it imports, organizes, edits, and exports photographs.

Read more
Instagram shows love to smaller accounts that post original content
Notifications related to Instagram's new algorithm to surface content linked to smaller accounts.

Instagram is starting to show some love to smaller accounts that post original content. The Meta-owned media-sharing platform announced in a blog post on Tuesday that it’s making a number of changes to give more prominence to material posted by “smaller, original content creators” over those with large followings and aggregators of reposted content, which up until now have received greater exposure in recommendations.

The move to give those with smaller followings more reach on Instagram involves making four changes to the current way of doing things, the company said.

Read more