Instagram co-founders quit to 'explore creativity again'
Updated 21:24, 28-Sep-2018
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The co-founders of photo-sharing giant Instagram, CEO Kevin Systrom and CTO Mike Krieger, have both resigned and will leave the firm in a few weeks to “explore our curiosity and creativity again,” Systrom wrote in a blog post on Monday.
“We are now ready for our next chapter,” he added.
 Mike Krieger (L) and Kevin Systrom (R) attend the 16th annual Webby Awards in New York, May 21, 2012. /VCG Photo

 Mike Krieger (L) and Kevin Systrom (R) attend the 16th annual Webby Awards in New York, May 21, 2012. /VCG Photo

“Over 8 years ago, Kevin and I started Instagram, hoping to build something that would bring out people's creativity and spirit for exploration,” Krieger said on Twitter on Monday. “A huge thank you to everyone in the community who we've met along the way”.
Mike Krieger posted a statement on Twitter soon after Instagram's announcement. /Screenshot from Mike Krieger's Twitter 

Mike Krieger posted a statement on Twitter soon after Instagram's announcement. /Screenshot from Mike Krieger's Twitter 

The pair did not give a definitive reason for their departure, but tension with parent company Facebook may be to blame, BBC reported. 
Systrom and Krieger started the app in 2010 while studying at Stanford University. After being purchased by Facebook in 2012 for 1 billion US dollars in cash and stock, which also was the biggest acquisition to date, the duo began clashing with the parent company as early as 2014 when messaging app WhatsApp was acquired.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg responded to the departure in a statement, saying: “I have learned a lot working with them for the past six years and have really enjoyed it.... I'm looking forward to seeing what they build next.”  
Social media users reacted to the departure of the founders of the popular app, which boasts more than 1 billion active monthly users.
“Give it a year, I bet we will see a new app popping up,” said B575Stephen on Twitter.
“You started something really positive, and without doubt my favorite app of all time. I left FB 2 years ago, and other than Twitter your app is still the one I use daily,” said Beth Waller on Twitter, “Good luck on your new journey.”