Hey there, Instagram (META) user! Were you enjoying sharing your photos in the comfort and freedom of a space without ads? Well, we’ve got a bit of bad news: eventually, Facebook (META) needs Instagram to start making money, and there’s a very good chance it’ll be through ads.
We understand if you need to sit for a minute to recover from the shock.
Earlier today, Business Insider proclaimed: “FACEBOOK CONFIRMS: Ads Are Coming To Instagram.” Only, Facebook didn’t confirm that ads are coming, so much as the fact that yes, the service eventually needs to start contributing to the bottom line. Here’s the exchange with Carolyn Everson, Facebook’s VP for global marketing solutions:
BI: Will you put ads in Instagram?
CE: Eventually we’ll figure out a way to monetize Instagram.
Well that’s not exactly a yes, a no, or even a when. It basically confirms what we already knew: there are no free rides, not for companies and not for users. So it’s probably time for Instagram users to start managing their ad-related expectations.