Who Invented Snapchat? [When, Where & How]

You might think that Snapchat is a new social media platform, but it actually dates back to 2011 when an iOS update allowed users to take pictures on the front-facing camera. But who invented Snapchat and how it became so popular?

Reggie Brown and Evan Spiegel invented Snapchat in 2011. The two Stanford students were looking for a way to send pictures and videos that would disappear after being viewed. They called it “Picaboo.”

This article chronicles the history of the Snapchat social media app and provides specific details on when it was created and who created it. So, let’s check it together!

Also Read: The invention of the selfie stick

Who Invented Snapchat App?

filters memories and streaks

Do you know who invented Snapchat? The Snapchat app was invented by Reggie Brown and Evan Spiegel

Reggie Brown was a Stanford University student who worked on the idea of an app that would send photos, but he did not have the technical skills to create it.

He pitched his idea to Evan Spiegel while they were both students at Stanford. 

Spiegel had the technical skills to build the app, but he did not have any ideas for what to call it or what it should be used for.

Brown came up with the name “Snapchat” (taking inspiration from the word “snapped,” meaning when something is broken) and he also came up with some of the first uses for Snapchat: 

sending photos back and forth between friends, posting them online for people in other states or countries to see, and sending messages that disappear after a certain time has passed (these are called “stories”).

How Long Has Snapchat Been Out?

The Snapchat app was launched in 2011, and since then it has been used by millions of people across the world.

The Snapchat app allows users to send photos and videos to each other which are deleted after a few seconds. 

The idea behind this feature is that you can share things with your friends without worrying about them being saved in some place where they can be seen again later on. 

This app has become extremely popular because it allows users to keep their personal lives private while also allowing them to share with others when they want to.

When Did Snapchat Come Out on iPhone?

The first version of Snapchat was released in July 2011 and was available exclusively on iOS devices. 

The app quickly gained popularity with users who found it convenient to send photos and videos that disappeared after a few seconds.

In January 2013, Snapchat launched a version of its app for Android devices. 

The company also introduced a feature called “Snapcash,” which allowed users to send money through the app using PayPal.

When Did Filters Come Out?

In January 2015, Snapchat introduced the filters, so-called ‘Discover’ and ‘Lenses’ to their platform. 

This was a huge step forward for the app! It allowed Snapchat users to be able to interact with their friends and family in a whole new way.

The app was originally conceived as a way to share photos that would disappear within seconds of being opened by the recipient. 

While it struggled in its early days to find a viable business model, it ultimately found success with the introduction of video clips and photo filters—which have become one of the most popular features on any social media platform.

When Did Memories Start?

Snapchat Memories was introduced in 2016 as a way to organize and display photos and videos more permanently. 

They allow users to create a “story” and then display it on their profile.

The content can be viewed by all users, or only by friends who have been added to the story. 

This feature is similar to Facebook’s timeline feature, which allows users to organize their posts into a single stream of content from their past.

Memories are organized into collections, which can be viewed by swiping left or right when viewing your own memories or swiping up when viewing someone else’s memories.

 Each collection can include photos and videos taken from the past 24 hours or the past 30 days.

When Did Streaks Come Out?

Snapchat Streaks were introduced in April 2015. The first time I heard about Streaks was when my friend asked me to send her something. 

It was a picture of me, with the caption “I want a streak”. 

I didn’t know what she meant so I just sent her a picture of myself and went on with my day.

Then later that night, she sent me another message saying “You started a streak! We have now been friends for 12 days straight!”. 

She then explained how Snapchat streaks work and told me that she wanted more than one thing from me every day and that if we could do that, we would start a streak together.

When Did Maps Come Out?

Snapchat Maps function was launched in 2017. It is a feature that allows users to see their friends’ locations on a map. 

This is done by the use of GPS and the Snap Map feature. The app features are available for both iOS and Android devices.

The feature was first introduced to users in select areas, including Los Angeles and New York City. 

They were then rolled out to all users in the United States and Worldwide.

Why Was Snapchat Created?

Reggie Brown and Evan Spiegel

Many people are wondering why was Snapchat created. 

The founders of Snapchat wanted it to be used as an alternative way to communicate with your friends without having to worry about being judged or embarrassed by what you say or do.

The creators wanted there to be an easier way for people to share their experiences with one another and not have them be censored by others. 

The idea behind Snapchat is that photos disappear after 10 seconds of viewing time or after being viewed by all recipients within a short period of time (usually 2-10 seconds).

The app’s popularity has been on the rise ever since its release in 2011. 

While it has become more than just an app for sending silly photos, it still has many features that make it fun to use.

What Was Snapchat Originally Called?

Do you know what was Snapchat originally called? – It was called Picaboo.

When you think about it, the name is pretty fitting. The app is all about sharing photos and videos with your friends. 

You can send them messages with text, drawings or captions, or even a photo or video. 

And when you take a photo or video with Snapchat, it’s instantly deleted from the sender’s device — “boop.”

The company recently changed its name to Snap Inc., which makes sense because the app no longer just allows users to send pictures and videos that disappear seconds after they’re viewed.

How Was Snapchat Created?

Snapchat is a popular social media app that allows users to send photos and videos to their friends that “self-destruct” after a certain amount of time. 

But how was Snapchat created?

It was invented when Stanford students Reggie Brown and Evan Spiegel decided to create a unique social media app. 

Brown came up with the idea but didn’t have the skills needed to build it, so he recruited Spiegel to help him. 

They soon became good friends and started working on the app together.

The pair worked on the app for months before launching it in July 2011 as “Picaboo.” 

It soon became known as Snapchat because it tended to make people look silly in photos — or “snap” — after sending them out to friends.

Spiegel later took control of the company and renamed it Snap Inc., which makes two other apps: 

Snapchat and Spectacles, sell sunglasses that take pictures for users.

What Was Snapchat Originally Made For?

If you’re still in a dilemma about what was Snapchat originally made for, Snapchat was originally made for people who wanted to exchange photos and videos that will not remain stored.

Nowadays, the app has become a platform where users can share their life moments with friends, family members, and other social media followers.

The concept of Snapchat was first introduced by its founder Evan Spiegel in 2011 while he was still in college at Stanford University

He had recently developed an interest in photography and wanted to find ways to share photos with his friends without leaving any traces of them on his mobile phone.

This led him to create an application that would allow users to send photos and videos that would disappear after being viewed for a few seconds by recipients. 

Not only did this make it easier for people to share their experiences but it also made them feel safer about doing so.

The application launched as Snapchat in September 2011 and quickly gained popularity among teenagers due to its simplicity and ease of use. 

The app became so popular among teenagers that Spiegel decided to drop out of college to dedicate himself entirely to developing his creation which now had over one million users by December 2011!

A Brief History of Snapchat

Here are some interesting facts about Snapchat history:

  • 2011: Stiegel and Murphy introduced Picaboo, a messaging app that allowed users to send photos that would self-destruct after a few seconds. It was later renamed Snapchat.
  • 2012: Introduced videos, which were then called “Snapchat Stories” — a feature that allowed users to share videos for up to 24 hours after recording them
  • 2012: Snapchat turned down Facebook’s $3 billion acquisition offer. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said he refused the deal because the company was not offering enough money.
  • 2013: Snapchat redefined itself again in 2013 with the addition of Stories. This feature allows users to post multiple photos or videos back-to-back
  • 2013: The company was valued at $800 million by investors at that time. The app hit 10 million daily users in December 2013.
  • 2015: Snapchat introduce Streaks and filters that made it fun to share your day with friends
  • 2015: The company reaches 100 million daily active users.
  • 2016: Snapchat introduced Memories, which allows users to create a collection of Snaps and post them to their Story in one fell swoop.

2017: Snapchat introduced a new feature called Snapchat Maps, which allowed users to see their friends’ locations on a map.

FAQ’s

Let’s check the list of frequently asked questions about who invented Snapchat and its amazing history.

When did Snapchat get popular?

It became popular in 2012 after several celebrities started using it. In 2013, Kylie Jenner tweeted about Snapchat, which helped increase the app’s popularity.

How did Snapchat become popular?

The answer is simple: teenagers. It was originally created as an app for sending photos and videos to friends, but it quickly evolved into something much more than that.

Is Snapchat OK for kids?

The company recommends that users be 13 or older to use the service, but there is no official verification process in place to confirm their age before they can create an account.

How many Snaps a day is normal?

An average active user snaps around 20 to 40 times per day. This number of Snaps will depend on your relationship with your friends.

Is Snapchat safer than Instagram?

Yes, it is much safer than Instagram. You can’t follow random people on Snapchat and you can only add friends of friends.

Do Snapchat subscribers get paid?

Yes, if they advertise something or someone. They can earn money by sharing ads from companies that want to promote their products on their channel.

What percentage of Snapchat users are female?

According to eMarketer, which tracks the social media market, 53% of Snapchat users are female.

Conclusion

To sum it up, Snapchat is a great way to share silly photos, special moments when you’re vacationing, and cute photos with your friends. 

Once you understand how this app works and put in the safeguards against inappropriate use, Snapchat could be a great addition to your teen’s smartphone.

I would like to hear from you some thoughts on this topic. 

So if you’re willing to find out more information about who invented Snapchat, leave a comment and I’ll respond soon.