Instagram recently launched a self-destruct feature for posts on their app. The feature is so similar to the one previously released by Snapchat and Instagram's CEO admitted that the feature was copied.
The feature recently released allows user to automatically delete a post after 24 hours. This feature is also available on Snapchat. Facebook's Instagram division launched the feature recently, Los Angeles Times reported.
The introduction of the app was announced last Tuesday, showing off the self-destruct message structure which has been the core of the Snapchat launch of the same feature in 2013.
The CEO of Instagram, Kevin Systrom admitted to crediting the feature to Snapchat. When the name of the app, Snapchat was mentioned, Systrom already said that Snapchat deserve all the credit, totally. He said the statement before the panel could even ask him the question. This is one of the first instances where one actually admits that he copied the idea from someone else. iTech Post reported.
Facebook was also accused of copying before when reports surfaced claiming that Facebook copied ideas from other social media apps. Oone of these reports include the copying of the use of hashtags from Twitter and other social media apps. However, when the company was asked where they got the idea of hashtags, the answer was that they are simply observing the behaviors of the users in the community and start building 'on top of it'. Facebook did not credit anyone for the feature. Additionally, the company said that they do not spend time looking at what other people are doing or not doing.
Also, this is the first time that Facebook and/or Instagram actually admitted and accepted that they got the idea of their features from another source.
In engineering, solving the problem the ideal way is called 'The Right Thing' and in terms of technology, doing 'The Right Thing' despite the fact that somebody else invented it, is actually a common thing.
