A few weeks ago, Apple removed the OG app from the app store, and today Google followed suit and launched the app from its platform as well. And I keep scratching my head wondering what the endgame was for the founders of the OG app.

As far as I know, the company has basically created a new version of Instagram that removes the ads and brings back the non-algorithmic feed. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love that, but there’s no universe where it would be a good idea to essentially steal a bunch of content from Meta (born Facebook), repackage it, and give that content to users. You see, businesses need to make money, and in the case of Instagram, that means showing ads to its users.

“Everyone knows Instagram sucks. We improved it and got a lot of love from users. But Facebook hates its own users so much that it’s willing to crush an alternative that gives them a clean, ad-free Instagram. Apple is colluding with Facebook to bully two teens who made Instagram better,” the startup said in a statement to australiabusinessblog.com ahead of Ivan’s story.

And that’s where I just shake my head – that’s not hating your users, that’s the only way to make money protecting. Literally any company in the world would fight to protect its profits, and wholesale stealing from a mega company with a $360 billion market cap is not a great way to build a startup.

However, the app — and its tens of thousands of downloads — illustrate one thing, which is that people are getting pretty bored of Instagram’s ad-heavy business, and according to Sarah’s recent reporting, things are set to get a lot worse. But if you don’t like it, your option is to stop using the offending platform and switch to another one.

The folks behind the OG app will be extremely lucky if it turns out that taking the app out of the app stores is the worst thing to happen to them, and as much as I want to encourage young entrepreneurs, I’m really confused why no one around them stopped them long enough to say, “uhm, maybe this isn’t a great idea.”