Pictures like this could soon find their way into your Instagram
feed, even if you don't follow companies like Ford.
A month ago, a Wall Street Journal report revealed that Instagram would soon embrace advertisements on its mobile app. Late last week, the company made that policy official, revealing that ads are indeed coming to the social network “in the next couple months.”
Because rolling out advertisements has the possibility to severely damage the previously ad-free Instagram brand, the company is taking a cautious, slow approach. “We’ll focus on delivering a small number of beautiful, high-quality photos and videos from a handful of brands that are already great members of the Instagram community,” explains the company on its corporate blog. “We want these ads to be enjoyable and creative in much the same way you see engaging, high-quality ads when you flip through your favorite magazine.”
The announcement seems to confirm that ads will be blended into your feed along with the content you’re actually on Instagram to see. You won’t be able to opt out of these ads, but you can click to close or “hide” them on an individual basis.
Instagram currently makes $0 in revenue for parent company Facebook. Ads coming to the social network always were inevitable. At least it appears that Instagram has some kind of plan to keep ads from ruining the experience. Facebook, meanwhile, continues to serve me ads laden with spelling errors and misogynistic suggestions.
For more on Instagram’s decision to include ads, check out the company blog.
