Abstract

Snapchat Inc. developed a photo messaging application in 2011. The unique ephemeral nature of the application very quickly captured the imagination of not only the youth but also of investors. Snapchat had also attracted an offer of US$ 3 billion from Facebook, which was turned down by the founders. The case discusses Snapchat’s inception, growth, the controversies it got into, and the possibilities of its becoming the next big thing in the social media.

Learning Objectives

The case is structured to achieve the following Learning Objectives:

• The strategies companies in social media follow
• The complexities involved in social media
• The challenges and opportunities that tech start-ups face

Keywords

Snapchat, social media,  Facebook, Photo messaging, app, Evan Spiegel, snaps, acquisition, mobile application, self destructing snaps.