Snapchat

Snapchat is an American multimedia social media and instant messaging app and service developed by Snap Inc., originally Snapchat Inc. One of the principal features of the app are that pictures and messages, known as "Snaps", are typically only accessible for a brief period of time before their recipients can no longer access them. The app has evolved from originally focusing on person-to-person photo sharing to now showcasing users' "Stories" of 24 hours of chronological content, along with "Discover", letting brands show ad-supported short-form content. It also allows users to store photos in a password-protected area called "My Eyes Only". It has also reportedly incorporated limited use of end-to-end encryption, with intention to expand its use in the future. Snapchat was created by Evan Spiegel, Bobby Murphy, and Reggie Brown, former students at Stanford University. It is known for representing a mobile-first direction for social media, and places significant emphasis on users interacting with virtual stickers and augmented reality objects. In 2023, Snapchat had over 300 million monthly active users. On average more than four billion Snaps were sent each day in 2020. Snapchat is popular among the younger generations, with most users being between ages 18 and 24. Snapchat is subject to privacy concerns with social networking services.