• by Mark Walsh  @markfwal, February 12, 2013

Squaring off in the Great Instagram Debate are Alan Edgett, co-founder of GetPerception and Nathaniel Perez, global head of social experience, SapientNitro, Alan argues Instagram is the best channel of all.  He says the photo-sharing service is great for amplifying brands because a picture tells a thousand words. Its also good for extending brands, e.g., people posting their runs on Instagram via the NikeFuel band, and building brand relationships via social conversations on the platform.

Perez isn’t quite as enamored of Instagram. He raises a series of questions about whether it has legs in the face of a stream of new competitors like Snapchat, Vine etc., whether it simply dissolves into Facebook, and if it’s doomed by commoditization of features like custom filters. Now as part of Facebook, Perez suggests innovation in the space will pass to emerging standalone companies. But both sides agree visual storytelling is here to stay.