Why Is There No Instagram App for iPad After All These Years?
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Introduction to the iPad Experience
Last year marked my first experience with an iPad. Excitedly, I powered it on and dove into the app store to download the essential applications. Everything was progressing smoothly until I reached Instagram. Upon launching, it displayed in a compact format, occupying only a fraction of the screen. Assuming it was a glitch, I deleted and reinstalled the app, but the issue persisted. Eventually, I discovered that Instagram hadn’t developed a dedicated iPad version; instead, they were merely adapting the iPhone app to fit a larger screen. But why is that the case?
In September 2021, Adam Mosseri, Instagram's CEO, addressed this very question during an Instagram Q&A. He remarked that while creating an iPad app "would be nice," there were no immediate plans to do so. Recently, when pressed for an explanation, he stated that the user base simply isn't significant enough to justify the development of a new app. Limited resources and higher-priority projects have kept Instagram focused elsewhere. In a tweet responding to MKBHD, who inquired about this puzzling situation, he reiterated that their team is preoccupied with maintaining Instagram on other platforms, leaving little time for an iPad adaptation.
Despite statistics from 2021 indicating that 46% of tablet users own iPads—translating to nearly 80 million users in the U.S. alone—this number still seems insufficient to capture Instagram's attention. Perhaps a lack of a well-functioning app is discouraging many potential users, including myself, from engaging with Instagram on the iPad. A dedicated app could potentially spark renewed interest.
Mosseri also mentioned that Instagram operates with fewer resources than one might assume for such a large company. This might sound surprising, but when it comes to resource allocation, they might prefer to invest in other initiatives rather than an iPad app.
The Bigger Picture: Other Companies' Priorities
This situation is not unique to Instagram. Even Apple, the creator of the iPad, has been slow to develop certain first-party applications. It wasn't until WWDC 2022 that Apple finally introduced a native Weather app for the iPad, and they have yet to create a calculator app for the device. Clearly, these priorities are not at the forefront for Apple either.
I believe that if Instagram devoted more resources to the iPad, it could lead to increased usage among iPad owners. The iPad's design is ideal for consuming content, making it a perfect platform for viewing photos and videos. However, developing a high-quality app for such a large device presents its own set of challenges. For now, it appears that Instagram prefers to delay this project indefinitely.
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References
Chapter 2: Understanding Instagram's iPad Absence
The video "Why Instagram Doesn't Have an iPad App" provides insights into the company's rationale for overlooking the iPad platform.
In the second video, "Can You Use Instagram on iPad (explained)", the intricacies of using Instagram on an iPad are explored, highlighting user experiences and challenges.