Amanda Murphy | August 4th, 2016
Snap Away Instagramers

It has been three years since Snapchat Co-Founder Evan Spiegal hastily and unapologetically turned down Facebook’s $3 billion acquisition offer. Since then, Facebook’s obsession with Snapchat has gradually shifted from “the one that got away” to “the one we want to be.” This sentiment became even more apparent this week when Instagram, owned by Facebook, launched a new feature called, “Stories”.
Sound familiar? It should. It’s practically a carbon copy of “Snapchat Stories,” a photo and video sharing platform where posts disappear after 24 hours. The addition further intensifies the competition between the two social media powerhouses. Still, this move seems a little different from some of Facebook™’s earlier attempts to innovate and remain cutting-edge.
Previously, the two apps were operating in the social media world relatively similarly, both focusing on visual content and extremely popular among millennials. Regardless of said similarities, they have never faced off directly against each other, at least not like now. By introducing Stories, Instagram is inviting Snapchat directly into the boxing ring. The move is a clear shot at Snapchat, and Facebook™’s leadership is not hiding it.
They say, “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery,” and we’d have to agree. Instagram™’s rollout of Stories only solidifies what Snapchat has been able to create. Not only does the social platform have a loyal following of over 150 million users a day, and counting, Snapchat has completely changed the way in which people engage with photos and videos. Snapchatters are now watching over 10 billion (yes, we mean billion) videos per day. It’s no wonder Facebook, via Instagram, would want to emulate Snapchat™’s smashing success.
What’s even more interesting is the name Instagram selected. Was this a lack of creativity on Instagram’s part? A rush job with simply not enough time to come up with a new name? Not likely. Stories were first released by Snapchat in 2013 and quickly became one of the app’s most popular features. Snapchat has so mastered the concept of brand loyalty that you can walk into any high school cafeteria and you’ll hear a number of teens referencing their “story.” Not to mention my baby boomer parents, who don’t even use it, are familiar with a Snapchat Story.
With that being said, why would Instagram fix something that isn’t broken? The term “Stories” is so widely used and accepted on social media that it didn’t need an explanation from Instagram. Instead of having to spell out what exactly what an Instagram Stories was, users were able to make the immediate connection and start using the new feature; there was no learning curve. A win-win for Instagram.
So, what does this update mean for the average Instagramer? Well, on the upside it presents us with more creative and engaging ways to share and view content. It will also give advertisers a more creative and engaging way to get in front of their consumers. As Instagram Stories continue to rollout and update, we can only imagine more sophisticated ads on the Stories feature (Hey, there is a price for everything, isn’t there?).
With celebrities like Taylor Swift, Demi Lovato, Kate Hudson, and John Legend already using Instagram Stories, it’s hard to imagine the feature doing anything but gaining traction. For now all we can do is sit back, relax, and story away.
Amanda Murphy is a Marketing Specialist at LEVICK.Â
Amanda Murphy | August 4th, 2016
Snap Away Instagramers

It has been three years since Snapchat Co-Founder Evan Spiegal hastily and unapologetically turned down Facebook’s $3 billion acquisition offer. Since then, Facebook’s obsession with Snapchat has gradually shifted from “the one that got away” to “the one we want to be.” This sentiment became even more apparent this week when Instagram, owned by Facebook, launched a new feature called, “Stories”.
Sound familiar? It should. It’s practically a carbon copy of “Snapchat Stories,” a photo and video sharing platform where posts disappear after 24 hours. The addition further intensifies the competition between the two social media powerhouses. Still, this move seems a little different from some of Facebook™’s earlier attempts to innovate and remain cutting-edge.
Previously, the two apps were operating in the social media world relatively similarly, both focusing on visual content and extremely popular among millennials. Regardless of said similarities, they have never faced off directly against each other, at least not like now. By introducing Stories, Instagram is inviting Snapchat directly into the boxing ring. The move is a clear shot at Snapchat, and Facebook™’s leadership is not hiding it.
They say, “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery,” and we’d have to agree. Instagram™’s rollout of Stories only solidifies what Snapchat has been able to create. Not only does the social platform have a loyal following of over 150 million users a day, and counting, Snapchat has completely changed the way in which people engage with photos and videos. Snapchatters are now watching over 10 billion (yes, we mean billion) videos per day. It’s no wonder Facebook, via Instagram, would want to emulate Snapchat™’s smashing success.
What’s even more interesting is the name Instagram selected. Was this a lack of creativity on Instagram’s part? A rush job with simply not enough time to come up with a new name? Not likely. Stories were first released by Snapchat in 2013 and quickly became one of the app’s most popular features. Snapchat has so mastered the concept of brand loyalty that you can walk into any high school cafeteria and you’ll hear a number of teens referencing their “story.” Not to mention my baby boomer parents, who don’t even use it, are familiar with a Snapchat Story.
With that being said, why would Instagram fix something that isn’t broken? The term “Stories” is so widely used and accepted on social media that it didn’t need an explanation from Instagram. Instead of having to spell out what exactly what an Instagram Stories was, users were able to make the immediate connection and start using the new feature; there was no learning curve. A win-win for Instagram.
So, what does this update mean for the average Instagramer? Well, on the upside it presents us with more creative and engaging ways to share and view content. It will also give advertisers a more creative and engaging way to get in front of their consumers. As Instagram Stories continue to rollout and update, we can only imagine more sophisticated ads on the Stories feature (Hey, there is a price for everything, isn’t there?).
With celebrities like Taylor Swift, Demi Lovato, Kate Hudson, and John Legend already using Instagram Stories, it’s hard to imagine the feature doing anything but gaining traction. For now all we can do is sit back, relax, and story away.
Amanda Murphy is a Marketing Specialist at LEVICK.Â
- Brand
- The Fifth Estate: A Business Guide for Surviving “The Troubles”
- Here We Come
- Corporate Revolt Over Campaign Donations Shakes Political World
- What Happens Next?
- CSR & Sustainability
- Public Perception & the Biden Transition
- WATCH: Reputation Management with PRSA
- Over the River and Through The Woods
- Why Non-Profits are so Vulnerable to Crisis Risk
- The Threat to Free Markets
- What Happens When Nonprofits Get Caught In The Klieg Lights?
- You Took a PPP Loan. Now Get Ready to Talk About It.
- Communications
- The Fifth Estate: A Business Guide for Surviving “The Troubles”
- Here We Come
- The Ministry of Common Sense
- Why Should I Apologize? Lawyers vs. Communicators
- What Happens Next?
- CSR & Sustainability
- A Conversation with Abbe Lowell
- A New Year’s Resolution
- Public Perception & the Biden Transition
- WATCH: Reputation Management with PRSA
- Leveraging Legal Expertise in Communications
- Over the River and Through The Woods
- Company News
- Here We Come
- Recent Awards & Recognition
- Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
- What’s a Director to Do?
- LEVICK Announces Partnership with BCG
- A New Look
- Albert Krieger, 1923-2020
- LEVICK Announces Partnership with Jipyong
- Speaking to In-House Counsel
- Childhood Lessons
- LEVICK Announces New Webinar Series with Turbine Labs
- LEVICK Launches New Website
- Crisis
- The Fifth Estate: A Business Guide for Surviving “The Troubles”
- What to expect as the clock approaches midnight
- How to Stop the Madness
- Corporate Revolt Over Campaign Donations Shakes Political World
- A Remembrance of Tommy Raskin
- No ‘justice’ in rep’s vote
- A Call for Orderly & Peaceful Transition of Power
- Recovering from the Greatest Sacrifice
- The Cost of Government Regulation and the Threat to Free Enterprise
- What Happens Next?
- A Conversation with Abbe Lowell
- Covid-19: The Pandemic that Never Should Have Happened
- Finance
- Here We Come
- The Threat to Free Markets
- Advisory & Insurance Services
- WATCH: Revolutionizing Litigation Finance
- Litigation Finance: Revolutionizing Litigation
- Consumer-Focused Solutions for Financial Health
- Event: Consumer-Focused Solutions for Financial Health
- Sports: Power and Money in a New Age of Social Justice
- The Balancing Act: The Role of Whistleblowers in American Commerce and Government
- The Evolving and More Powerful FARA
- FCPA & Compliance in a Time of Uncertainty
- Shareholders vs. Stakeholders: Is the Paradigm Shifting?
- Guest Column
- Guest Blog: The Mainstream Media Gets an A for Intellectual Arrogance, an F for Journalism
- Buckle up Directors: Cybersecurity Risk and Bankruptcy Risk Are Not Mutually Exclusive
- Buckle up Directors: Cybersecurity Risk and Bankruptcy Risk Are Not Mutually Exclusive
- South Africa: The Slow Decline of the ANC
- Why CSR Fails and How to Fix It
- What to Expect Following the European Elections?
- Buhari Inaugurated. What Now for Nigeria?
- Marketing- It’s Up To You…
- Crisis Management lessons from the air-crash investigation model
- The Future of War
- Health
- Food Issues & the Biden Administration
- Covid-19: The Pandemic that Never Should Have Happened
- Pharma’s Post-Pandemic Policy Outlook
- Keeping Hope Alive
- Real Herd Immunity
- The Fiction of College Sports Amateurism
- Mac Summit: Crisis Communications in a Post-Covid, Post-Election World
- Travel Industry Communications in the Age of Covid-19
- Track of Time
- Is C-19 Taking Women Lawyers’ Careers Back to the 1950s?
- Post-Pandemic PR Strategy
- Bankruptcy: A Culture of Transparency
- In Memoriam
- Snider’s Super Foods: Locally World Famous
- Speak Truth With Love, Not Anger
- In Memoriam: Stephen Susman
- Letter to the Movement
- John Lewis’ Life Bridged the Best of America
- Albert Krieger, 1923-2020
- In Memoriam of Marcia Horowitz
- Jim Lehrer Passes Away
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Harold Burson Passes Away
- Interviews
- CommPRO: Ruth Bader Ginsberg’s Life & Legacy
- Richard Levick on “My Wakeup Call”
- Primerus Webinar: Into the Wind
- The Future of Baseball Post-Pandemic
- Webinar: The End of Brand Neutrality
- Thought Leadership & Organic Growth
- Man & Superman
- LEVICK Announces New Webinar Series with Turbine Labs
- Navigating Coronavirus Challenges in the Insurance Industry
- VIDEO: How to Anticipate & Avoid a Crisis
- What’s Next? with Julie Chase
- What’s Next?: California Electoral Behavior
- Law Firms
- Why Should I Apologize? Lawyers vs. Communicators
- You Took a PPP Loan. Now Get Ready to Talk About It.
- Beyond Black Swan: Positioning the law firm for the new normal
- A Salute to Personal Courage and the Rule of Law
- Cyber Risk Institute Expands Its Profile
- When a client becomes a law firm’s PR nightmare
- The General Counsel’s Dilemma
- A First Look at the Google Antitrust Suit
- The Latest Top Class Actions
- Trust on Trial: How Communicators Succeed in a World No Longer Trusted
- The Latest Settlements, Class actions, Investigations & More
- Managing Legal & Communication Advice in a Crisis
- Litigation
- Why Should I Apologize? Lawyers vs. Communicators
- A Conversation with Abbe Lowell
- Leveraging Legal Expertise in Communications
- You Took a PPP Loan. Now Get Ready to Talk About It.
- Beyond Black Swan: Positioning the law firm for the new normal
- A Salute to Personal Courage and the Rule of Law
- Cyber Risk Institute Expands Its Profile
- When a client becomes a law firm’s PR nightmare
- The General Counsel’s Dilemma
- WATCH: Revolutionizing Litigation Finance
- Litigation Finance: Revolutionizing Litigation
- A First Look at the Google Antitrust Suit
- Our Work
- Recent Awards & Recognition
- The Cyber Bad Guys Are Getting Worse
- Crisis Communications & The Age of Cancel Culture
- Standing on the Shoulders of Giants
- Video: Conversations with American Legends
- Staying Ahead of the Crisis
- A New Era of Insurance Marketing
- Infographic: Judgment Free Zone
- Infographic: Barriers to Entry
- Infographic: History Meter
- Assistance for Law Firms Engaged in Pro Bono
- Webinar: The End of Brand Neutrality
- Public Affairs
- The Fifth Estate: A Business Guide for Surviving “The Troubles”
- What to expect as the clock approaches midnight
- How to Stop the Madness
- Corporate Revolt Over Campaign Donations Shakes Political World
- No ‘justice’ in rep’s vote
- A Call for Orderly & Peaceful Transition of Power
- Recovering from the Greatest Sacrifice
- Food Issues & the Biden Administration
- The Cost of Government Regulation and the Threat to Free Enterprise
- What Happens Next?
- CSR & Sustainability
- A Conversation with Abbe Lowell
- Risk
- Ingredients of Decency
- ESG Performance and Credit Markets
- The Coronavirus Saga is Just Beginning
- No. 1 Risk of the Decade
- The Risk Evolution of Corporate Risk
- Extend Risk Management Reach
- Collective Action
- Risk Identifying Software
- The New Risk of Doing Nothing
- Political Unrest In Hong Kong
- High-Profile Kidnaps in African National Parks
- Cyber Resilience
- Social
- The Ministry of Common Sense
- How to Stop the Madness
- A Remembrance of Tommy Raskin
- No ‘justice’ in rep’s vote
- A Call for Orderly & Peaceful Transition of Power
- Recovering from the Greatest Sacrifice
- CSR & Sustainability
- A New Year’s Resolution
- Dropping the Mic
- Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
- Crisis, Covid, DEI & the Election
- MLK’s Memphis Address
- Technology
- Constella Intelligence Announces Hunter for Improved Investigation Capability
- Cyber Risk Institute Expands Its Profile
- Digital Politics: The Future of Voting Technology
- Ethics in Electronics
- The Cyber Bad Guys Are Getting Worse
- A First Look at the Google Antitrust Suit
- The Pause
- Cybersecurity Incidents of the Summer
- The Changing Digital Economy and Cyber Risks
- The Future of U.S. Manufacturing
- Tech CEO Summer Superbowl hearing
- Technology & Privacy Alert
- This Week
- A Remembrance of Tommy Raskin
- A New Year’s Resolution
- Over the River and Through The Woods
- Dropping the Mic
- Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
- The Cyber Bad Guys Are Getting Worse
- What We Hear
- Track of Time
- Video: Conversations with American Legends
- Conversations with American Legends
- A New Era of Insurance Marketing
- American Legend