Ask HN: Why are there so few features on Instagram's website?
I have no affiliation with Instagram other than a user, but I believe the answer really is that simple, they want you to use their app. The purpose of Instagram is to capture moments in time via photos on your mobile device and share those photos with your friends and others. The app serves that function eloquently so what advantage does the website give them? Users aren&#x27;t discouraged from using their site, but what Instagram does not want is users to upload hundreds of images at once from the albums stored on their home computer. Not having the ability via the website helps to prevent that user. In addition, outside of uploading and altering images the website really is not missing any other functionality compared to the app.<p>Why have a website at all you ask? My response would be why not have a website? It&#x27;s a place for their business as a whole to have a web presence. Just because a product is mobile-centric, does not mean they can&#x27;t have a website. I think their website is perfect for the product. It is minimal, you can search for users, see what others are posting, participate in the comments, and like photos. The only piece I do wish they would allow you to do is see who is following you and who you are following. But to be honest, I rarely use the site at all. In fact the only time I will find myself using the site is if I am on Facebook on my laptop and want to share a photo from Instagram to my FB friends. Other than that it is the app all the way.