Snapchat
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| Basic information | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2011 |
| Type | Public |
| Industry | Social media |
| Official website | https://snapchat.com |
Snapchat is a social media and camera app founded in 2011 by Evan Spiegel, Reggie Brown, and Bobby Murphy.[1] In March 2017, Snapchat would become a publicly traded company in the New York stock exchange.[2]
Consumer impact summary[edit | edit source]
Freedom[edit | edit source]
Users can request access to their user data and the deletion of their account through the app, though users will be redirected to https://accounts.snapchat.com.[3] Users will have 30 days to reactivate a deactivated account, though after 180 days the account is permanently deleted.[4]
Privacy[edit | edit source]
Unopened "one-on-one" snaps are deleted from servers after 31 days of being sent.[5]
Business model[edit | edit source]
In 2022, Snapchat introduced a subscription service called "Snapchat+" for $4 a month or $40 a year.[6] In February 2025, a "platinum" tier was introduced for $14.99 a month.[7]
Market control[edit | edit source]
Incidents[edit | edit source]
Data breaches[edit | edit source]
Privacy concerns[edit | edit source]
Snapchat Maps[edit | edit source]
In June 2017, a new feature called "Maps" was released that showed users where their friends were while using the app.[8] This feature was from the acquisition of the company Zenly.[9] Many feared the feature would be used in stalking and many child safety groups were wary, with one stating "we would encourage users not to share their location, especially with people they don’t know in person".[8]
As of February 2025, users can opt out of the maps feature by disabling location services in their device settings or through the app. This can be done temporarily through "ghost mode," where only Snapchat can see your location rather than your added friends. Users can also restrict what accounts can see their location.
Products[edit | edit source]
- Bitmoji (2016[10]-): Custom user generated emoji avatars used in Snapchat and images.
- Spectacles (2016-2024): Augmentive Reality (AR) glasses.
- Pixy (2022[14]): In 2024, the device was recalled due to a faulty battery.[15]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ O'Connell, Brian (2020-02-28). "History of Snapchat: Timeline and Facts". TheStreet. Archived from the original on 2024-12-29. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
- ↑ Balakrishnan, Anita (2017-03-02). "Snap closes up 44% after rollicking IPO". CNBC. Archived from the original on 2025-03-17. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
- ↑ "How do I download my data from Snapchat?". Snapchat Support. Archived from the original on 2025-04-12. Retrieved 2025-04-21.
- ↑ "How do I deactivate or delete my Snapchat account?". Snapchat Support. Archived from the original on 2025-04-21. Retrieved 2025-04-21.
- ↑ "Can I request a copy of a Snap?". Snapchat Support. Archived from the original on 2025-04-21. Retrieved 2025-04-21.
- ↑ Betters, Elyse; Lennox, Jesse (2024-06-26). "Is Snapchat+ worth it? What you need to know before subscribing". Pocket Lint. Archived from the original on 2025-01-26. Retrieved 2025-04-21.
- ↑ Sexton, Kathleen (2025-02-03). "Snapchat Introduces Ad-Free Platinum Tier—Will Subscribers Pay the Price?". Subscription Insider. Archived from the original on 2025-04-07. Retrieved 2025-04-21.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Solon, Olivia (2017-06-23). "Snapchat's new map feature raises fears of stalking and bullying". TheGuardian. Archived from the original on 2025-02-14. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
- ↑ Constine, Josh (2017-06-21). "Snapchat acquires social map app Zenly for $250M to $350M". TechCrunch. Archived from the original on 2024-12-27. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
- ↑ Leswing, Kif (2016-07-19). "Snapchat just introduced a feature it paid more than $100 million for". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 2024-01-19. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
- ↑ Constine, Josh (2017-10-28). "Why Snapchat Spectacles failed". TechCrunch. Archived from the original on 2025-02-10. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
- ↑ "SPS 2021: Introducing the Next Generation of Spectacles". Snapchat Newsroom. 2021-05-20. Archived from the original on 2025-01-13. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
- ↑ Leng, Ben (2024-09-17). "Snapchat Reveals Latest Spectacles AR Glasses with Attractive Pricing for Developers". Road ToVR. Archived from the original on 2025-03-12. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
- ↑ Stein, Scott (2022-05-22). "Me and My Selfie Drone: Life With a Snap Pixy". CNET. Archived from the original on 2025-03-08. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
- ↑ Hollister, Sean (2024-02-01). "Snap is recalling and refunding every drone it ever sold". TheVerge. Archived from the original on 2025-03-22. Retrieved 2025-03-25.