In an e-mail sent on April 5 2012, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg wrote: "I just need to decide if we’re buying Instagram." In another, he added: "Instagram can hurt us meaningfully without becoming a huge business."

Later that month Facebook bought the upstart tech competitor for an eye-watering $1bn. Two years later it would pay $19bn for WhatsApp...

Subscribe now to unlock this article.

Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).

There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.

Cancel anytime.

Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.