What is your opinion?
A series of snapshots that capture the milestones in Instagram's journey.
"A pair of tech bros, Kevin and Mike, set out to make an app that was all the rage at the time. After Burbn failed, they pared it down to focus on one element. Instagram grew too big too fast. Facebook stepped in. Online bullying, doxing, curated images, and fake accounts tested the vision. When monetization and push notifications corrupted it, the duo left due to lack of operational independence. Each chapter is a snapshots that capture the milestones in Instagram's journey. For me, the paragraphs of Kevin capturing the light with his camera, or users sharing memories, stood out. In contrast, the current state of Insta, which, in essence, originated from Kevin's love for photography feels tragic. "
Good writing
"Saherj. Has done an excellent work in explaining how Instagram developed the challenges it faced and her writing is flawless and smooth..Her English simple to understand which is actually great if you don't wanna crack your head a lot. Good job...deserves a five ⭐ 👌💯"
A Story with Heart - I loved that!
"Honestly, I've never been a fan of social media. I do have an Instagram account, and maybe one day I'll actually learn how to use it properly. I'm just not there yet. To make things even worse, I'm hopelessly in love with fictional stories. It would never have occurred to me to pick up a book based on real events. In fact, I don't think I'd even be capable of writing one myself. 🤭 But you did—and what you've created is truly remarkable. I deliberately avoided reading about Instagram's history beforehand because I thought it would be much more enjoyable to discover it through your story instead. It was definitely the right decision. First of all, you're an excellent writer. What unfolded before my eyes wasn't a dry documentary filled with facts. I could feel the emotions, the beauty of the small moments, and the weight of the struggles. I love the way you can tell an entire story with something as simple as a half-empty coffee mug after a sleepless night, or show the true meaning of photography through a quiet moment between a father and his son. Right before our eyes, an app was born that, at first, wasn't successful at all. But Kevin and Mike refused to give up, and without outside help, they achieved a level of success that even they never expected. I also loved how you showed that every decision can turn out to be the right one—or the wrong one—but none of us can ever know in advance where our story will lead. I'm glad I got to discover Instagram's journey. But for me, this wasn't just the story of a global success. It was a story about friendship, and about having the courage to stay true to your own values. And that is worth far more than success itself. Thank you for writing this story. I'm genuinely amazed by what you're capable of. I wish you many more wonderful stories to write. Or rather... I'm asking for them. ❤️"
A Cinematic Journey Behind the Screen! 📸✨
"I just binge-read this entire story, and I am completely blown away. The author takes a well-known real-world event—the creation of Instagram—and transforms it into an incredibly gripping, emotional, and fast-paced narrative. What makes this story so special is the human element. It’s not just about coding, servers, and business deals; it’s about the profound brotherhood between Kevin and Mike. You can literally feel their anxiety during the crashes, their triumphs during the growth, and the heavy, bittersweet weight of their final decisions. The pacing is brilliant, perfectly capturing the chaotic energy of a tiny startup scaling into a global giant. I also deeply appreciated how the story didn't shy away from the dark side of social media. The chapters exploring the psychological impact of fake lives, cyberbullying, and the loss of the app's original "innocence" were profoundly written and hit so close to home. This is a masterclass in storytelling. The dialogue is sharp, the contrast between the characters is fantastic, and the ending was beautifully executed. Highly recommended to anyone who loves drama, tech history, or just a wonderfully written character study. Outstanding job!"
Moving and fascinating
"A dream comes true and then gets commercialized. You manage to take us along on the journey of how the app came to be, letting us see just how much hard work, doubt, and obstacles lay along the way. That the two of them remain true to themselves is the greatest gift of this story for me. You portrayed their shock at the unexpected success, as well as their determination to eliminate small mistakes and preserve their integrity, in a way that felt deeply relatable and allowed us to experience it alongside them. I think it’s so important to not only show success, but also what it cost and which 'demons' had to be faced along the way. Everyone knows how quickly people tried to monetize this passion project, but you made us actually feel it. It is not my place to question the decision they made, but they reached their conclusion, and you plausibly presented how it all might have played out. Because in the news, we only ever get what they want us to see — just like on Instagram itself. Thank you for your perspective on this. Both MCs remained grounded and reachable throughout, and their motivation was always sincere and focused on helping people. I truly enjoyed this story. Very great work. I’m looking forward to your next book! Congrats on this work!"
The Faces Behind the App
"This novel takes you through the journey of Mike and Kevin, who are the creators of Instagram, mainly through the point of view of Kevin. The reader gets to see the history of how it was made, including the choices that were made that turned the app famous. The story is rich in detail, going through Kevin's journey of creating the famous app, Instagram, and what it turned into. Kevin is a great lead with his motivation and intention clear. Mike also makes a wonderful supporting character and friend by backing Kevin in his choices and also by challenging Kevin in his ideas. The pacing is great; there isn't any dragging on, and it gets to the point while focusing on key moments within their journey. From the start, the author explains what is to be expected and delivers a great end that ties the story all together, including an author's note that adds a bit of an afternote about what happened with Kevin and Mike. One of my favorite things about this title is the relationship between Kevin and Mike; it feels authentic, like two friends would act towards one another. It was a great read which I highly recommend, especially if you are interested in learning a bit of the history behind Instagram. "
A Truly Heartfelt Journey
" What a beautiful story. The last chapter almost brought me to tears. Oh, Kevin... why did you have to make such a heartbreaking decision? It took incredible courage and wisdom to make such a difficult choice. And I absolutely loved Mike. If there's such a thing as a true friend, he's the perfect example. Throughout the entire story, he stood by Kevin's side, and even in the end, he never abandoned him. That kind of loyalty was genuinely heartwarming. What impressed me the most is that, from beginning to end, I never felt like I was simply reading a biopic or the story of how an app was created. Instead, I felt like I was reading the story of two friends—their hard work, intelligence, determination, perseverance, the struggles they faced together, and their constant efforts to overcome every obstacle. It was an incredibly touching and inspiring story. Thank you for sharing it, and keep up the wonderful work, Author. ❣️👏"
An Inspiring Story of Vision, Passion, and Perseverance
"The concept immediately grabbed my attention because it's refreshing to see a novel inspired by the story behind one of the world's most influential apps. The summary does a great job of blending technology, innovation, and human ambition, making me curious about the challenges and decisions that shaped Instagram's journey. I also appreciate the disclaimer explaining the balance between real events and fictional storytelling—it sets the right expectations for readers. If the rest of the book delivers on the promise of the summary, this looks like a compelling read for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, innovation, and the people behind groundbreaking ideas. Looking forward to reading more!"
The Human Story Behind Instagram
"I loved how the story portrayed the founders of Instagram from such a human and grounded perspective. It never felt like I was simply reading a biography. Instead, it felt natural, engaging, and flowed effortlessly. It was fascinating to see what lies behind creating an app that millions of us use every day. Kevin and Mike's friendship was genuinely touching. They stood by one another through every challenge, supporting each other from beginning to end. This was their story, their thoughts, emotions, struggles, successes, and the journey they took together, told with warmth, authenticity, and heart. It was a wonderful reminder that every great innovation begins with ordinary people willing to take extraordinary risks."
Behind the filter
"I liked the backstory of how Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger made the app Instagram.The book is completed and surprisingly very interesting and educating. I like his writing and how he thought of the story, Behind the scene. If not for this book I would have probably never known how Instagram came to exist "
I finished this in one sitting! Very relatable and I loved it!
"I don't personally use Instagram, not because I don't like it, I'm just not really into social media. Even so, I really enjoyed reading your book. I loved how you told Kevin and Mike's story. I could really feel everything they were going through. Their doubts, the hard work, and the hope that everything they were building would succeed felt so real. As someone who is also trying to grow from something I love doing, I found it very relatable.✨✨✨ One thing I really took away from your story is that sometimes you just have to take the risk before you know what will happen. That really stayed with me. 🥰🥰🥰 I'll be honest, the beginning didn't catch my attention right away, but I'm glad I kept reading because once the story picked up, I finished it in one sitting. Thank you for sharing this story. It was a really good read, and I'm looking forward to reading your next book. I already have it in my collection."
Loved this story
"I love instagram and when i see this story about its founders ans behind the scene story it made me curious to read about then i know about Kevin and Mike and i must admit that i loved these both friends and thier bonding so much. Everyday i use this app but really never thought about it. How much efforts struggles they did and dinally made this amazing app.Thank you friends for this gift and thank you author for writing this amazing story for us."
Inspiring, Emotional, and Eye-Opening: A Must-Read!
"Even though I’ve been using Instagram for a long time, I never actually knew who created it. To be honest, I never really cared to find out. But I'm so glad I read this book if I hadn't, I would have never discovered the story behind it. The title 'Behind the Filter' is enough to understand what the whole story is about, and the writer keeps the readers hooked right from the very first chapter. Frankly speaking, I absolutely loved the friendship between Kevin and Mike. They always stood by each other like true friends. I am also deeply inspired by their hard work, even when their first app, Burbn, didn't succeed, they didn't give up. Instead, they determined to make it better and created Instagram, which eventually connected people from every corner of the world. They never quit and faced every obstacle with sheer courage. The ending, where both Kevin and Mike decided to leave Instagram, was heartbreaking for me. But when I put myself in Kevin’s place, I realized his decision was completely right. He wasn't able to run Instagram the way he wanted anymore because he was answerable to someone else. When something that was once yours is no longer truly yours, walking away is the right choice. In conclusion, the way the writer crafted this story and infused it with emotion is truly commendable. I loved this book and highly recommend that others read it too."
My First Experience with Literary & Biological Writing
"This is my first time reading a story tagged as biological writing and literary writing, so I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. When I first saw those tags, I honestly didn’t pay much attention to them because the story still read naturally instead of feeling like an academic paper. I had assumed it might be difficult to follow or filled with technical language, but I was pleasantly surprised by how approachable and engaging it is. I’m only a few chapters in, but I’m already invested. The story caught my attention early, and the pacing has done a great job of keeping me curious about what will happen next. The writing flows smoothly, making it easy to stay immersed in the world the author is creating. Even with the biological and literary elements woven into the story, nothing feels forced or overwhelming. Instead, those details seem to add depth and make the reading experience more interesting. One thing I especially appreciate is that the story doesn’t feel like it’s trying too hard to impress the reader. It simply tells its story in a way that feels natural while still showing the author’s knowledge and creativity. That balance has made this a refreshing read for me. I haven’t finished the story yet, so this isn’t my final review, but my first impression has been very positive. I’m genuinely intrigued, and I’m looking forward to seeing how the plot, characters, and themes continue to develop. To the author, thank you for sharing your creativity and hard work. Writing takes courage, and every story is an opportunity to inspire someone else. Keep writing, keep growing, and don’t lose heart. Your words may reach people in ways you never expected. I’m excited to continue reading your journey. “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9"
The story behind the camera icon app
"Behind the Filter is a great story. It tells the untold story behind Instagram, how it was created by two friends; Kevin and Mike, in their apartment. I love the writer’s skill in truly capturing the development of their growth process from the first idea to the first build, the fear of it failing, the first trial, the repeat and adjustments and more trials, to the final product and the success, and then to what happened after the success. It is a beautiful well written story based on true events, and I will recommend it to everyone. Come read this, you will definitely learn a thing or two from it❤️"
Beyond the Filters: The Untold Story of Instagram
"Biographies have never been my favorite genre, but this book completely changed my perspective. It captivated me from the very beginning and proved that a gifted author can transform what might have been a dry documentary or a Wikipedia page into a compelling, page-turning story. Reading about Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger was truly eye-opening. We scroll through Instagram every day, yet rarely pause to think about the vision, sacrifices, sleepless nights, setbacks, and relentless determination that brought this platform to life. Their journey is a powerful reminder that every great innovation is built on persistence, courage, and an unwavering belief in an idea. Instagram is undoubtedly one of the most influential creations of the digital age. Like any powerful tool, its impact depends on how we choose to use it. When used with purpose, it becomes far more than a social media app—it becomes a platform for learning, creativity, meaningful connections, and opportunities capable of changing lives. This book isn't just the story of an app; it's the story of ambition, resilience, innovation, and the people courageous enough to turn an impossible dream into a global phenomenon."
Behind the filter
"Ohhh😭😭😭😭😭this has shocked me the ending of the story, the resignation from everything we built, it takes a heart of a builder. I salute this gentleman, I have loved the story so much that I had gotten touched with it, I swear I expected another ending than this for Instagram is an app we enjoy to the fullest. Thank you saherj for coming up with this. I will enjoy more of your stories "
The Hope Behind the Dreams
"Kevin Systrom has never been anyone's idea of a typical hero. Equipped with only his dreams and a deep sense of motivation he journeys to Italy, where he develops an eye for finding beauty in ordinary moments. Along with his best friend and partner, Mike Krieger, they eventually create the social media platform of Instagram. While the world celebrates Facebook’s $1 billion acquisition, Kevin and his team quietly come to terms with the bittersweet end of their independence, realizing that success often comes with letting go of the dream they built together. I like stories about highly motivated individuals who achieve success despite all the odds and author Saher J does an excellent job with their story. She's good with finding humor in small moments and making Kevin and Mike seem human and relatable. Not 'Great Gods of Technology' we are encouraged to worship. This is a unique story too. I don't think I've seen any entries in the visionary contest that cover the creators of Instagram yet. (I don't mean it doesn't exist, just that I haven't encountered it yet.) This is a good novel that reminds us of the sacrifices that others have made to help us communicate just a little bit better. "
Good start
"This story does not waste your time. It respects that you showed up to read something worth reading and it delivers on that from the very first page to the very last."
Kevin the Gem
"I am definetly enjoying it.Kevin, he truly is the gem of person.He risked opportunities like another candy.He have guts to make his mind against all odds and stick to it without regretting.Maybe one day I can be as daring as he is."
