Never knock something until you try it.

As an Android owner, I was fairly unfamiliar to Instagram, as it was only available on Apple products. I would always joke about how people thought they were professional photographers because they put a fancy filter on their photos. However, once it became available to me, I can see what the hype is all about.

Using Instagram is incredibly easy. To use it, you don’t have to know anything about photography to take a good looking photo. Simply point, tap, and you have your photo. Adding a filter is quick and easy as well, with the option to select it and change your mind in a matter of seconds. With many different filters that are all unique, it is easy to spend time just going through all of them to find the perfect effect.

Sharing photos is incredibly convenient. With the option to share it to Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and more, your photos can be seen by all of your friends as fast as possible. The photos are also saved in your phone’s own photo gallery for your own personal use.

Following friends' Instagram feeds is also offered with the app. It is simple to find friends with the use of social networks, so there is little effort needed by the user. Once you have a few friends to follow, your feed is filled with their beautiful photos that are available to like and comment on.

All in all, Instagram for Android’s success comes from the simple user interface as well as the filters that can make even the most mundane of photos pleasing to the eye. While I am not a professional photographer by any means, this app makes it easy for me to take a good looking photo of just about everything. The fact that it is free makes it a must-have for any smart phone user.

Since it has been on the Google Play app market, it has had more than 10 million downloads. In all, Instagram is used by 50 million people. I hate to advise people to jump on a bandwagon, but this app is easy to use, fun to share with friends, and can even teach people a thing or two about photography.         

With Android users waiting so long to get their hands on it, it’s easy to see why it has become such a success.