Snapchat might be bringing Stories to the web

Snapchat is looking to snap up more users or at least encourage its existing user base to do use its service more. It’s being reported that the social network is working on bringing its Stories Everywhere to the web or on other apps. It’ll be an embedded web player that would help increase exposure to snaps and hopefully encourage people to download the app or at least watch content from the service. Snapchat has been struggling to attract new users, so it needs to extend beyond its walls. If there’s any truth to these rumours, it’ll give them an advantage over Facebook and Instagram since both don’t offer embedded stories just yet. But with Facebook known to quickly copy Snapchat features, we aren’t sure if that advantage will last long. Snap is refusing to comment on the report.

Source: Engadget

Facebook tests out Snapchat-like streaks feature

Facebook has on numerous occasions copied features from Snapchat both for its main app and its other properties (like Instagram and WhatsApp). That behaviour continues with the new feature the social network is trying out. This time, it’s copying the feature that has kept Snapchat users, particularly its teen user base, engaged: streaks. These streaks or having continues back and forth direct snaps with friends come with emoji rewards and have had Snapchat users obsessively trying to keep it going for as long as they can.

Facebook confirmed it’s testing this feature out in Messenger, complete with emoji-like icons and a counter that shows how long the streak is going. According to a spokesperson for Facebook, they are testing out the feature "to see at a glance fun facts about the people you message with. For example, a lightning bolt may appear next to the name of a person you've messaged with for at least three days in a row, and a counter will indicate how many consecutive days you've been chatting. We're interested to see if people enjoy this insight, but we don't have any additional information to share at this time." Now, whether this is something users would want, we can’t say. What we do know is this is Facebook’s way to keep users (hopefully) engaged.

Source: Mashable

Snap Inc. says they’ll start paying top creators

A platform is only as good as the content it produces. And while it might be a bit late, Snapchat is looking to put a bit more effort to support its pool of creators. Aside from revamping its Android app, Snapchat’s parent company, Snap Inc., plans to start paying its top creators, similar to what YouTube does with its star YouTubers that are encouraged to create videos in exchange for advertising revenue. Snap Inc.’s CEO Evan Spiegel acknowledges in his prepared quarterly remarks that they have “neglected the creator community on Snapchat that creates and distributes public Stories for the broader Snapchat audience.”

Spiegel says they plan to develop more distribution and monetization options for its creators over the next year. Snapchat might also introduce professional tools and help facilitate sharing beyond friend groups.

Source: The Verge

Snap Inc. announces major redesign for Snapchat on Android

Looks like Snap Inc. is finally going to pay better attention to its Android user base. In an investor note that’s part of the company’s third quarter 2017 financial results, Snap’s CEO Evan Spiegel announced that they are working on a major revamp of Snapchat on Android, citing they’re building it “from the ground up.” The app will be built from what the company’s Android development team has learned from working on Android in the past five years. Spiegel claims that the new Android version will be “a huge focus over the coming year.” The company says they saw “significantly more Android users” added with the improvements they’ve added to the app, even when compared to iOS users.

Spiegel didn’t give a specific time frame for the release of the new Android app but they did say it’s coming out in a limited number of markets first before they roll it out worldwide. On top of this, Snap is exploring a redesign of the app to appeal to a wider audience, even if this might be as he says “disruptive to our business in the short term.” These announcements come out as Snap reported a lower-than-expected 4.5 million new Snapchat users in the third quarter. The app currently has 178 million daily active users.

Source: Android Authority