Facebook acquires animated graphics start-up GIPHY

Facebook said on Friday it had acquired the animated graphics start-up GIPHY and would integrate the company in its Instagram visual social network.

The company said in a statement it had partnered with GIPHY for years and that the platform would continue to operate its library.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the news site Axios said Facebook was paying $400 million.

The statement read: “GIPHY is a platform and search engine for “stickers” and other products using the graphics interchange format or GIFs.

“GIPHY, a leader in visual expression and creation, is joining the Facebook company today as part of the Instagram team.

READ ALSO: WHO partners WhatsApp to curb fake news on coronavirus

“GIPHY makes everyday conversations more entertaining, and so we plan to further integrate their GIF library into Instagram and our other apps so that people can find just the right way to express themselves.”

A blog from the GIPHY team said the start-up was created in 2013 “with a simple goal in mind: to make communication more fun.

“That’s why we’re thrilled to announce that GIPHY has been acquired by Facebook and is joining the team at Instagram.

“Instagram has revolutionized self-expression. More than one billion people use Instagram to communicate how they’re feeling and what they’re passionate about — we can’t wait to help those people become even more animated,” it added.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now