Snapchat is a multimedia messaging app and 🏷️#social-platform launched in 2011 by 📝Evan Spiegel, Bobby Murphy, and Reggie Brown while at 📝Stanford University. Snapchat popularized ephemeral photo and video messages (“Snaps”), 24-hour Stories, and augmented reality Lenses and filters used by consumers and advertisers. The service includes Snap Map for opt-in location sharing, Spotlight for short-form creator content, and a Discover tab with programming from publishers. The company monetizes primarily through advertising, including AR formats and sponsored content, and has experimented with hardware such as Spectacles smart glasses. According to Snap’s investor disclosures, the app reaches hundreds of millions of daily active users globally, with strong penetration among younger demographics. Privacy and safety features emphasize temporary messaging, user-managed friendships, and controls for visibility; content policies and community guidelines govern moderation. Snap Inc. listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2017 under the ticker SNAP.
