Snapchat

2025-04-28T07:48:18Z

2A02:C7C:F359:6C00:2D5A:D0B:CB59:31E2: Looks decent enough - stub notice removed!

{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = {{PAGENAME}}
| Type = Public
| Founded = 2011
| Industry = Social media
| Official Website = https://snapchat.com
| Logo = Snapchat.svg
}}

'''[[Wikipedia:Snapchat|Snapchat]]''' is a social media and camera app founded in 2011 by Evan Spiegel, Reggie Brown, and Bobby Murphy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestreet.com/technology/history-of-snapchat|title=History of Snapchat: Timeline and Facts|first=Brian|last=O'Connell|date=2020-02-28|work=TheStreet|access-date=2025-03-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241229102412/https://www.thestreet.com/technology/history-of-snapchat|archive-date=2024-12-29|url-status=live}}</ref> In March 2017, Snapchat would become a publicly traded company in the New York stock exchange.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/03/02/snapchat-snap-open-trading-price-stock-ipo-first-day.html|title=Snap closes up 44% after rollicking IPO |first=Anita|last=Balakrishnan|work=CNBC|date=2017-03-02|access-date=2025-03-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250317223648/https://www.cnbc.com/2017/03/02/snapchat-snap-open-trading-price-stock-ipo-first-day.html|archive-date=2025-03-17|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Consumer impact summary==
====Freedom====
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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://help.snapchat.com/hc/en-us/articles/7012305371156-How-do-I-download-my-data-from-Snapchat|title=How do I download my data from Snapchat?|work=Snapchat Support|access-date=2025-04-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250412105026/https://help.snapchat.com/hc/en-us/articles/7012305371156-How-do-I-download-my-data-from-Snapchat|archive-date=2025-04-12|url-status=live}}</ref> Users will have 30 days to reactivate a deactivated account, though after 180 days the account is permanently deleted.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://help.snapchat.com/hc/en-us/articles/7012328360596-How-do-I-deactivate-or-delete-my-Snapchat-account|title=How do I deactivate or delete my Snapchat account?|work=Snapchat Support|access-date=2025-04-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250421224309/https://help.snapchat.com/hc/en-us/articles/7012328360596-How-do-I-deactivate-or-delete-my-Snapchat-account|archive-date=2025-04-21|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Privacy====
Unopened "one-on-one" snaps are deleted from servers after 31 days of being sent.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://help.snapchat.com/hc/en-us/articles/7012328490644-Can-I-request-a-copy-of-a-Snap|title=Can I request a copy of a Snap?|work=Snapchat Support|access-date=2025-04-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250421224300/https://help.snapchat.com/hc/en-us/articles/7012328490644-Can-I-request-a-copy-of-a-Snap|archive-date=2025-04-21|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Business model====
In 2022, Snapchat introduced a subscription service called "Snapchat+" for $4 a month or $40 a year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pocket-lint.com/snapchat-plus-price-features-subscription/|title=Is Snapchat+ worth it? What you need to know before subscribing|first1=Elyse|last1=Betters|first2=Jesse|last2=Lennox|date=2024-06-26|work=Pocket Lint|access-date=2025-04-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250126100742/https://www.pocket-lint.com/snapchat-plus-price-features-subscription/|archive-date=2025-01-26|url-status=live}}</ref> In February 2025, a "platinum" tier was introduced for $14.99 a month.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.subscriptioninsider.com/article-type/news/snapchat-introduces-ad-free-platinum-tier-will-subscribers-pay-the-price|title=Snapchat Introduces Ad-Free Platinum Tier—Will Subscribers Pay the Price?|first=Kathleen|last=Sexton|date=2025-02-03|work=Subscription Insider|access-date=2025-04-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250407170731/https://www.subscriptioninsider.com/article-type/news/snapchat-introduces-ad-free-platinum-tier-will-subscribers-pay-the-price|archive-date=2025-04-07|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Market control====
As of April 2024, Snapchat has roughly 800 million monthly users.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://whatsthebigdata.com/social-media-statistics/|title=Global Social Media Statistics 2024 by Age, Platform, Country|date=2024-05-17|work=What's the Big Data|access-date=2025-04-23|author=GilPress|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250131160909/https://whatsthebigdata.com/social-media-statistics/|archive-date=2025-01-31|url-status=live}}</ref> In March 2025, Snapchat was reported on having an active user index of 27.7, being behind Messenger, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and YouTube.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://datareportal.com/social-media-users|title=Global social media Statistics|work=DataReportal|access-date=2025-04-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250422052738/https://datareportal.com/social-media-users|archive-date=2025-04-22|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Incidents==
===Data breach (''2014'')===
In January 2014, Snapchat experienced a data breach that exposed the usernames and partial phone numbers of 4.6 million users through an API exploit.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.epic.org/2014/01/snapchat-data-breach-exposes-4.html|title=Snapchat Data Breach Exposes 4.6 Million Usernames|date=2014-01-02|work=Epic|access-date=2025-04-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250212024420/https://archive.epic.org/2014/01/snapchat-data-breach-exposes-4.html|archive-date=2025-02-12|url-status=live}}</ref> A couple days after the breach, Snapchat updated the app to allow users to opt-out of linking phone numbers to their usernames through the "find friends" function of the app.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.databreachtoday.com/snapchat-updates-security-after-breach-a-6368|title=Snapchat Updates Security After Breach|first=Jeffery|last=Roman|date=2014-01-10|work=Data Breach Today|access-date=2025-04-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240224192448/https://www.databreachtoday.com/snapchat-updates-security-after-breach-a-6368|archive-date=2024-02-24|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Privacy concerns===

====Snapchat Maps (''2017'')====
In June 2017, a new feature called "Maps" was released that showed users where their friends were while using the app.<ref name="GSC">{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/jun/23/snapchat-maps-privacy-safety-concerns|title=Snapchat's new map feature raises fears of stalking and bullying|first=Olivia|last=Solon|work=TheGuardian|date=2017-06-23|access-date=2025-03-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250214100959/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/jun/23/snapchat-maps-privacy-safety-concerns|archive-date=2025-02-14|url-status=live}}</ref> This feature was from the acquisition of the company Zenly.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/06/21/snapchat-buys-zenly/|title=Snapchat acquires social map app Zenly for $250M to $350M|first=Josh|last=Constine|date=2017-06-21|work=TechCrunch|access-date=2025-03-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241227173128/https://techcrunch.com/2017/06/21/snapchat-buys-zenly/|archive-date=2024-12-27|url-status=live}}</ref> 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".<ref name="GSC" />

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==
* [[Bitmoji]] (2016<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/snapchat-just-introduced-a-feature-it-paid-more-than-100-million-for-2016-7|title=Snapchat just introduced a feature it paid more than $100 million for|first=Kif|last=Leswing|work=Business Insider|date=2016-07-19|access-date=2025-03-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119173743/https://www.businessinsider.com/snapchat-just-introduced-a-feature-it-paid-more-than-100-million-for-2016-7|archive-date=2024-01-19|url-status=live}}</ref>-): Custom user generated emoji avatars used in Snapchat and images.
* [[Spectacles]] (2016-2024): Augmentive Reality (AR) glasses.
** Spectacles (2016)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/10/28/why-snapchat-spectacles-failed/|title=Why Snapchat Spectacles failed|first=Josh|last=Constine|work=TechCrunch|date=2017-10-28|access-date=2025-03-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250210140939/https://techcrunch.com/2017/10/28/why-snapchat-spectacles-failed/|archive-date=2025-02-10|url-status=live}}</ref>
** Spectacles (2021)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newsroom.snap.com/introducing-the-next-generation-of-spectacles|title=SPS 2021: Introducing the Next Generation of Spectacles |date=2021-05-20|work=Snapchat Newsroom|access-date=2025-03-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250113192742/https://newsroom.snap.com/introducing-the-next-generation-of-spectacles|archive-date=2025-01-13|url-status=live}}</ref>
** Spectacles (2024)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.roadtovr.com/snapchat-spectacles-24-ar-glasses-specs-price-release-date/|title=Snapchat Reveals Latest Spectacles AR Glasses with Attractive Pricing for Developers|first=Ben|last=Leng|date=2024-09-17|work=Road ToVR|access-date=2025-03-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250312005417/https://www.roadtovr.com/snapchat-spectacles-24-ar-glasses-specs-price-release-date/|archive-date=2025-03-12|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Pixy]] (2022<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/living-with-a-selfie-drone-life-with-snap-pixy/|title=Me and My Selfie Drone: Life With a Snap Pixy |first=Scott|last=Stein|work=CNET|date=2022-05-22|access-date=2025-03-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250308001130/https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/living-with-a-selfie-drone-life-with-snap-pixy/|archive-date=2025-03-08|url-status=live}}</ref>): In 2024, the device was recalled due to a faulty battery.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/2/1/24058119/snap-recall-pixy-drone-refund|title=Snap is recalling and refunding every drone it ever sold|first=Sean|last=Hollister|date=2024-02-01|work=TheVerge|access-date=2025-03-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250322021723/https://www.theverge.com/2024/2/1/24058119/snap-recall-pixy-drone-refund|archive-date=2025-03-22|url-status=live}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.bitmoji.com/ Bitmoji]
*[https://www.pixy.com/ Pixy]
*[https://www.spectacles.com/?lang=en-US Spectacles]

==See also==
*[[Instagram]]

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Consumer Rights Wiki - User contributions [en]

Snapchat