While it’s sad to see a plucky startup like Instagram be absorbed into the Borg Collective that is Facebook (they’re definitely not the first, but probably among the most “controversial”,) I think we need to take a step back from our nerd-rage and remember that it’s also part and parcel of the extremely fast-paced world of web-based technology today. Companies come and go all the time, both due to intense competition, the rapid pace of technological development, and mercurial consumer demands. Facebook is just doing what they feel is necessary to stay on top.

On the other hand, a diverse marketplace is what breeds innovation and, ultimately, benefits consumers. Monopolies are never a good thing*, and if huge tech companies like Facebook and Google simply buy out the competition, as opposed to creating better alternatives, that can’t be good for users. In any case, I’m interested to see how this plays out. Will Instagram be heavily integrated into the Facebook experience, or will it largely be left alone?

*Internet browsers being the only exception because that would make my job so much easier.