Written by Adam Drizen, Account Executive
One of the most popular social media platforms, Snapchat, allows users to send and receive pictures, videos, and messages to their friends. The principal feature of the app is that the content is only available for a short period of time before becoming inaccessible to its recipients. Snapchat first launched in 2011 and was created by three Stanford University students. It was the catalyst for a new era of social media, emphasizing authenticity and reality. Snapchat has over 293 million daily users and on average more than 4 billion Snaps are sent daily. The app has been integrated into the lives of individuals across the globe and has significantly evolved over the years.
3 changes Snapchat has made over the years that have distinguished them from their competitors:
1. Snapchat Stories
In 2013, Snapchat introduced Stories. A Story is a photo or video that you can post to your feed which allows all of your friends to have access to. Your Story is available for 24 hours and after the time limit is up, Snapchat automatically deletes it. Stories became a massive hit because they allow you to show your friends what exciting things you have been up to without being permanent. People also enjoy seeing what their friends are doing, allowing them to keep up with people's lives they may not see all the time. In later years other social media platforms, including Instagram and Facebook, implemented this concept in their apps.
2. Snapchat Filters and Lenses
Filters are artistic overlays that you can add to Snaps that you take. They can highlight numerous things, including appearance, location, time, status, and so much more. They were first introduced in 2014 and have experienced significant growth over the years. In 2015 they created lenses. Lenses use augmented reality to enhance the user experience. When the camera is toward their faces, people can choose from various lenses to change their looks. From puppy ears to barfing rainbows, Snaps became more creative and engaging. Today, people can customize their filters and lenses on Snapchat, allowing everyone to choose how they want their Snaps to look. Filters and Lenses doubled the number of snaps sent that year and helped boost the number of users overall.
3. Snapchat Discover
Discover is a page on Snapchat that acts as a newsfeed. On it, users can find content in a Story format from news publishers, influencers, or brands. In addition, people can subscribe to a channel on their Discovery page and see recommended content based on their history. This content can range from product demos to television shows to news reports. Every account member has access to a Discover page, so there is no additional cost, which allows every user to have the same options as everyone else. This has also become an excellent way for businesses to grow. Often, companies partner with Snapchat Discover to try to attract a younger audience and gain a larger youth following.