Instagram will surpass Google, Twitter in US mobile display ad revenues by 2017

Oh boy, how the table has turned. eMarketer estimated that Instagram will see higher net mobile display ad revenues than Google and Twitter in 2017. It was forecasted that Instagram will see $595M in mobile ad revenue this year. By 2017, that figure will hit $2.81B.

Most of my friends scoffed at the news when Facebook acquired Instagram for $1B in April 2012. I admit I was slightly skeptical because Instagram didn’t have revenue back then. At the current momentum, it looks like Facebook is going to reap what they sow in multiple folds.

Have you predicted this back in 2012?