Instagram founders clash with Zuckerberg, leave Facebook

Instagram founders Mike Krieger (L) and Kevin Systrom attend the 16th annual Webby Awards in New York May, 21 2012. REUTERS/Stephen Chernin/File Photo

The founders of Instagram are leaving Facebook Inc after growing tensions with chief executive officer Mark Zuckerberg over the direction of the photo-sharing app, people familiar with the matter said. 

Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, who have been at the company since Instagram’s acquisition by Facebook in 2012, had been able to keep the brand and product independent from Facebook. Lately, they were frustrated with an unusual uptick in day-to-day involvement by Zuckerberg, who is now more reliant on Instagram for Facebook’s future growth.