Snapchat is a popular social media app that allows users to send photo and video messages that disappear after being viewed. It was originally designed as a fun and casual way to share moments with friends, but over time Snapchat has evolved into much more than that. One of the features that has been added to Snapchat over the years is a news feed, providing users with access to headlines and stories from major news publications. So is there actually a news feed on Snapchat? The short answer is yes, Snapchat does have a news feed feature. However, it works a bit differently compared to the news feeds on other social platforms.
What is the Snapchat news feed?
The Snapchat news feed is called Snapchat Discover. It allows users to view stories and headlines from select media companies, including major news organizations like CNN, ESPN, NBC News, BuzzFeed and more. Publishers produce special video content just for Snapchat Discover, optimized for viewing on a mobile device.
When users open the Discover section of Snapchat, they see tiles representing each of the available channel options. Tapping on a tile brings up that channel’s latest stories and headlines. The content is usually a mix of short news updates, longer feature stories, and interactive elements like polls and quizzes.
One thing that makes the Snapchat news feed unique is the ephemeral nature of the content. Stories only stay live in Discover for 24 hours before disappearing. This creates a sense of urgency for users to check the news feed daily so they don’t miss any posts.
What kind of news is available?
Snapchat Discover offers a wide variety of news content spanning many topics and formats. Some of the categories covered include:
– General news – Headlines and reporting on big stories from politics, world events, business, technology and more.
– Entertainment news – Celebrity, movies, music and pop culture updates.
– Sports news – Score reports, highlights and commentary on sports leagues and athletes.
– Lifestyle – Articles and videos on health, travel, food, fashion and relationships.
– Local news – Updates on news stories relevant to specific cities and regions.
In addition to articles and video segments, Discover includes interactive quizzes, polls, slideshows and other engaging elements to compliment the news content. There are also Snap-friendly graphics and effects added to many of the posts.
How does it compare to news feeds on other platforms?
While Snapchat Discover serves as a news feed, it has some notable differences from the news feeds found on platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Here are some of the ways the Snapchat news feed stands apart:
– Ephemeral content – Stories disappear after 24 hours rather than remain visible indefinitely.
– Select publisher access – Snapchat hand picks which media outlets can have a Discover channel, unlike the open news feed access on Facebook and Twitter.
– TV-style content – Discover features video content produced specifically for Snapchat in a vertical, full screen format optimal for mobile devices. Other news feeds mostly feature externally produced content like links, photos and embedded videos.
– Limited connections – Users can’t follow individual profiles or publishers directly. The only available connections are the preset Discover channel options.
– No algorithm – Snapchat presents Discover content in a consistent order rather than tailoring it to individual users based on data and usage patterns.
– No ads – Snapchat doesn’t run ads alongside Discover stories. Other platforms contain lots of news feed ads.
– No sharing – There is no option for users to share Discover stories to their own feeds or profiles. News content lives only within the Discover tab.
So while Snapchat does offer news content, the delivery format provides an experience that is distinctly different from traditional news feeds on social platforms. The Snapchat news feed is designed for quick catch-up viewing rather than deep analysis or customization.
Snapchat’s evolving news role
When Discover first launched in 2015, its news capabilities were fairly limited. But in recent years, Snapchat has taken steps to expand and strengthen its news content. Some key milestones include:
– 2016 – Snapchat struck a deal with NBC to feature content from NBC, MSNBC, CNBC and more on a dedicated news Discover channel during the Rio Olympics.
– 2017 – Added local news from outlets like the Washington Post, LA Times, and Daily Mail to increase region-specific coverage.
– 2018 – Launched redesigned Discover tab with dedicated sections for Shows, Publisher Stories, and personalized For You recommendations.
– 2020 – Partnered with voter registration organizations to run registration campaigns and election reminders.
– 2021 – Added Creator Profile sections spotlighting popular Snapchat influencers.
– 2022 – Introduced local community stories aggregating Snaps from events and locations.
As Snapchat continues to evolve, news and current events have become a bigger part of the platform. The company sees Discover as an important tool for informing and engaging younger users who spend less time watching traditional TV news broadcasts. While Snapchat may not replace cable news or news websites, Discover does provide a unique way for users to catch up on headlines in between chatting with friends.
Pros of the Snapchat news feed
For those interested in checking out Snapchat’s take on news, here are some of the advantages that Discover offers as a news source:
– Bite-sized content perfect for mobile – Short videos and easily digestible graphics are ideal for on-the-go news consumption.
– Quality publisher partnerships – Reputable news brands like CNN and National Geographic provide reliable news content.
– Variety of topics – From global affairs to pop culture to college football, Discover offers broad coverage.
– Fun, interactive elements – Quizzes, polls and AR effects create an engaging news experience.
– Ephemeral setup encourages return visits – Users have to check in daily not to miss stories.
– Ad-free service – More content, less advertising compared to news aggregators.
– Complements other news sources – Discover can work as a supplementary way to stay informed.
For Snapchatters seeking a quick, entertaining news fix throughout their day, the Discover feed packs a lot of value into its fast-paced, mobile delivery.
Cons of the Snapchat news feed
The unique Snapchat news feed format isn’t ideal for everyone, however. Here are some of the drawbacks that accompany Discover’s approach to news content:
– Fleeting content – Stories disappear after 24 hours, so it’s easy to miss news if you don’t check in daily.
– No sharing or saving – Users can’t share stories or save them to read later.
– Limited channel selection – Only ~30 pre-approved Discover channels exist. Users can’t access other sources.
– Lacks depth – With just flashy headlines and short video segments, Discover isn’t made for in-depth reporting.
– No personalization – The content order is uniform for all users rather than tailored to interests.
– Few connections – Users can’t follow specific reporters, outlets or topics like they can on other platforms.
– Mobile-only – The vertical full screen format doesn’t translate well to desktop or tablets.
– Young skew – Content is often aimed at attracting a Gen Z audience rather than providing comprehensive news coverage.
For those who prefer a highly customizable feed with extensive long-form content and detailed analysis, Discover may come across as too shallow in its current iteration.
Tips for using Snapchat Discover
If you think Snapchat Discover might be a good supplementary addition to your daily news consumption, here are some tips to get the most out of Snapchat’s news feed feature:
– Check Discover daily – Don’t forget to stop by the Discover section so you don’t miss content.
– Scan through all the channels – Don’t just stick to the same one or two. There’s likely something of interest in each.
– Watch video clips in full – Let the videos play through rather than just reading headlines for more context.
– Take mini-quizzes – The polls and quizzes are a nice way to interact with the news.
– Follow topics, not just outlets – Check channels outside your usual interests to expand your news horizons.
– Don’t ignore local options – Local news channels provide unique nearby coverage you won’t find elsewhere.
– Think of it as a starting point – Treat Discover as a way to catch headlines, then dive deeper elsewhere if stories interest you.
– Check it at different times – News feed content refreshes throughout the day as stories develop.
The Snapchat Discover feed offers a complementary news consumption experience for mobile-oriented users. By embracing its ephemeral, entertainment-leaning format, Snapchatters can stay casually informed on a broad range of timely topics. It strikes a unique balance between news and social media.
The future of news on Snapchat
Snapchat has come a long way from its early days as a silly selfie app. With it now reaching over 300 million daily active users, Snapchat has grown into a youth culture behemoth with power to inform, entertain and engage massive audiences.
While still not quite a replacement for mainstream news outlets, Snapchat Discover has established itself as a respectable mobile news hub in its own right. As it continues to tweak the Discover formula and onboard new media partners, Snapchat’s news offerings will only expand.
Some possibilities for Snapchat’s news capabilities going forward include:
– More focus on developing original news programming optimized for Snapchat’s style and audience, rather than repurposed content from TV networks.
– Addition of push notifications for breaking news so users don’t miss big stories.
– Increased local news coverage through crowdsourced community stories and partnerships with local journalism outlets.
– Ability for Snapchat creators and influencers to launch their own Discover channels as hosts/journalists covering specific beats.
– Development of machine learning to provide personalized news recommendations based on users’ viewing habits.
– Addition of interactive news games and competitions to drive engagement.
– Partnerships with independent journalists and bloggers looking to build out a Snapchat presence.
– Experimentation with augmented reality and 360-degree content to enhance visual news storytelling.
– Ways for friends and public figures to contribute to Our Stories around specific events.
– Addition of multimedia long-form news content alongside the current short headlines and videos.
After surpassing Twitter and Pinterest in U.S. popularity among the coveted 18-24 demographic, Snapchat has the attention of young audiences that the news industry wants to reach. Both Snapchat and news outlets stand to gain by increasing their collaboration. With Discover showing constant evolution, expect Snapchat’s news capabilities to offer increasingly rich opportunities for publishers and users alike.
Conclusion
In conclusion, yes – there is a news feed feature on Snapchat called Snapchat Discover. It allows users to view video and article content from select premium publishers, spanning news, entertainment, sports, lifestyle categories and more. The Discover feed has a unique ephemeral, mobile focus aimed at younger audiences. It provides a more casual news consumption experience compared to the extensive feeds on platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Snapchat isn’t likely to become most users’ primary news outlet, but Discover can be a nice supplementary option for lightweight, on-the-go news browsing. As Snapchat continues to beef up its partnerships and original content, Discover has potential to become an increasingly important part of the platform’s identity and a compelling destination for publishers reaching younger demographics. The Snapchat news feed marks an evolution in both the app’s capabilities and the ongoing news industry shift toward mobile-friendly, digitally native formats.