[bruceb]

Problem with them was the massive about of money they were burning on servers and being sued by RIAA (Music companies) and MPAA (Film companies) among others. They needed a big infusion of capital.

Instagram on the other hand could have remained independent and succeeded.

[prox]

I think instagram is one of the (few) companies that could eventually have eclipsed Facebook really.

[jiofih]

Which is the exact reason they paid a billion dollars to acquire it.