Social media has met its demise. Enter the era of Snapchat!” Such was the proclamation in an internal memorandum dispatched by Evan Spiegel, the innovative mind behind the instant messaging phenomenon Snapchat. In this missive, he boldly declared the demise of traditional social media, launched an offensive against rival platforms, and foresaw the ascendancy of his brainchild over smartphones, as reported by Business Insider.
Spiegel informed his team this week that they are diligently crafting an exceptional social media platform—one that “spreads joy” among users. He conveyed a sense of reaching a pivotal juncture, singling out competitors such as Facebook, Instagram, and the erstwhile “X,” now known as Twitter.
In the memorandum, he articulated that “this year marks an opportunity to leverage the momentum we’ve cultivated and unlock our full potential.”
The first half of 2024, according to Spiegel, will witness Snapchat concentrating efforts on “unifying various key initiatives crucial to our sustained success,” with a particular emphasis on expanding user bases in advanced markets like North America and Europe.
Spiegel underscored the importance of a “targeted approach towards the iOS operating system” and a heightened commitment to refining ad targeting and performance.
Furthermore, he detailed plans to integrate “content and advertising interactions” within Snapchat’s essential features—Spotlight and Stories—facilitated by a seamless vertical scroll navigation. Concurrently, Spiegel set his sights on rivals within the social media domain.
Reflecting on Snapchat’s inception a decade ago, he reminisced about the initial vision he shared with Bobby Murphy—to counter the popularity contests prevalent on platforms like MySpace, evolving into Facebook and culminating in Instagram.
He positioned Snapchat as a haven of “joy,” specifically catering to teenagers through unique messaging features and an unwavering focus on fostering close relationships.
In a recent announcement, Meta unveiled new features on Instagram and Facebook aimed at enhancing the user experience for individuals under 18, with a heightened focus on scrutinizing content related to the mental health of teenagers.
Spiegel also subtly alluded to issues on the Meta platform, including child exploitation content and supervision concerns on “X,” as well as geopolitical conflicts like the Israel-Hamas situation. He asserted, “While we acknowledge our imperfections, our competitors are linking child predators, endorsing sabotage, and promoting terrorist propaganda. We stand firm in the knowledge that Snapchat brings happiness to people.”
In a candid conversation posted on the Blind website—where user workplaces are verified—employees expressed their dissatisfaction with Spiegel’s adversarial tone, particularly towards Meta. One employee remarked, “Evan’s disdain for Meta is unmistakable in most of his messages.
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