Instagram Surpasses 500M Users,

Instagram, on Tuesday reported a record 500 million Instagrammers use the platform monthly.

The Platform is a online mobile photo-sharing, video-sharing, and social networking service that enables its users to take pictures and videos, and share them either publicly or privately on the app, as well as through a variety of other social networking platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and Flickr.

Originally, a distinctive feature was that it confined photos to a square shape, similar to Kodak Instamatic and Polaroid SX-70 images, in contrast to the 4:3 aspect ratio typically used by mobile device cameras.

In August 2015, version 7.5 was released, allowing users to post photos captured in any aspect ratio.

Users can also apply digital filters to their images.

The maximum duration for Instagram videos is 15 seconds

In a blog link, the platform said, “Today, we’re excited to announce our community has grown to more than 500 million Instagrammers — more than 300 million of whom use Instagram every single day. Our community also continues to become even more global, with more than 80 percent living outside of the United States.

“As you’ve captured and shared the moments happening around you, you’ve formed incredibly varied and diverse communities. Whether you’re an illustrator, a sneakerhead or an astronaut on the International Space Station, every photo and video you share helps bring people closer to friends and interests, broadens perspectives and inspires a sense of wonder. You’ve made Instagram a place where the everyday and the epic are always within reach”.

Speaking on the milestone, Amy Cole, head of brand development for EMEA, said, “It’s incredible to think that in just five and a half years, the Instagram community has grown to half a billion. It’s exciting that we’re still growing so fast – the community has more than doubled over the past two years – and now 300 million are using Instagram every day. Brands have always been a key part of our community – and as the community continues to grow, so does the opportunity for advertisers.

“In the last few years we’ve introduced new tools and creative formats, like video carousel, to help brands drive real business results. 200,000 advertisers of all sizes and from all sectors are seeing success on Instagram.  And we’re continuing to invest, with new features like Instagram Business Tools coming to Europe later this year, so that brands can effectively connect with this highly engaged and rapidly growing community.”

Some other interesting data points Instagram announced include, Instagram's (monthly) user base more than doubled in size over the past two years, adding 100 million active users faster than the previous 100 million

More than 80% of the Instagram community is outside the US.

Instagram has more than 100 million monthly actives in the US.

More than 95 million photos and videos share per day, on average

4.2 billion likes per day, on average