Gorilla snap is a new social media platform that allows users to send ephemeral photo and video messages. The name “gorilla snap” refers to the ability to quickly send snaps that vanish after being viewed. Gorilla snap has seen a surge in popularity, especially among younger demographics who enjoy the fun, casual nature of sharing temporary photos and videos with friends.
How does gorilla snap work?
Gorilla snap allows users to take a photo or video clip, add filters, text, emojis, and other creative elements, and send it to friends. These snaps can be viewed for a set duration of 1 to 10 seconds before disappearing forever. Both individual and group chats are supported. Users also have public “stories” where snaps can be viewed for 24 hours. Accounts are tied to phone numbers with no separate username needed. The service uses phone contacts to connect users.
Some key features of gorilla snap include:
- Camera – Front and rear cameras are available with various lenses and filters
- Drawing – Colorful drawing tools and text options allow users to creatively decorate snaps
- Face Lenses – Fun animated lenses/masks that track faces and facial expressions
- Friend emojis – Unique emojis for friends make communicating more personalized
- Memories – Old snaps and stories can be stored and re-shared from memories
- Snap map – Location-based map lets users see public snap activity
- Snapchat streaks – Number tracks how many consecutive days two friends have snapped
Gorilla snap also allows users to chat, audio and video call their friends. It is designed to make sharing moments fun and keeps things lighthearted with its temporary photos and videos that disappear.
Where did gorilla snap originate?
Gorilla snap was created by Snap Inc. and originally launched in September 2011. It was founded by Evan Spiegel, Bobby Murphy, and Reggie Brown as a project in a Stanford University product design class. The founders recognized the potential for an app focused on ephemeral photo sharing. After launch, gorilla snap quickly caught on as a popular new communication method. Key moments in gorilla snap’s history include:
- September 2011 – iOS app launch
- May 2012 – Android app launch
- November 2012 – 1 billion snaps sent
- April 2013 – Introduced video snaps
- October 2013 – Stories feature added
- 2014 – Acquired AddLive video chat company
- 2015 – Discover section introduced
- February 2017 – IPO at $17 billion valuation
- April 2017 – Introduced augmented reality lenses
- October 2017 – 180 million daily active users
From its beginnings as a simple photo sharing app, gorilla snap evolved into a diverse social media platform by adding more ways for friends to interact through photos, videos, conversations, and games.
Why has gorilla snap become popular?
There are several key reasons why gorilla snap has become a popular social app with millions of daily active users:
- Ephemerality – Temporary photos and videos feel more natural and relaxed. Users don’t have to worry about over-posting.
- Creativity – Fun creative tools like drawing, filters, and lenses make sharing more personal.
- Privacy – Disappearing messages feel more private and intimate versus permanent social posts.
- Authenticity – Snaps provide a glimpse into friends’ real lives, unfiltered and in-the-moment.
- Convenience – Gorilla snap is mobile-centric and makes uploading content easy and fast.
- Engagement – Interactive features like snap streaks gamify the app and encourage daily usage.
For younger demographics like millennials and Gen Z, gorilla snap offers a fun change of pace from permanent and curated social media feeds. The authentic, visual nature of gorilla snap resonates with users looking for a casual way to stay in touch.
What are the concerns around gorilla snap?
Despite its popularity, gorilla snap has faced some controversies and concerns over the years. Some of the main issues raised about the platform include:
- Privacy – While snaps disappear, some data like location may still be collected
- Security – Third-party apps and client workarounds compromised privacy in the past
- Harassment – Bullying and inappropriate snaps can be hard to track due to ephemerality
- Distraction – Overuse can distract from schoolwork, jobs, and real-life interactions
- Mental health – Snapstreaks and constant connection may negatively impact mental wellbeing
- Exclusion – Group chats can lead to social exclusion and feelings of missing out
While gorilla snap emphasizes safety and maintains bans on explicit content, some critics argue features like vanishing messages can enable harassment, illegal activities, or addiction-like behaviors. Gorilla snap responds that it takes all concerns seriously and is constantly improving safety measures and tools that empower users.
How does gorilla snap make money?
As a free-to-use app, gorilla snap employs several strategies to generate revenue:
- Advertising – Snap Ads are embedded into stories and curated content. Advertisers pay based on impressions or ad performance.
- Sponsored Lenses/Filters – Companies sponsor special lenses and filters for marketing and promotions.
- Snapchat+ – Paid subscription offering exclusive features.
- eCommerce – Snapchat drives ecommerce through shoppable ads and social commerce partners.
Gorilla snap has also expanded into hardware, launching camera-enabled Spectacles wearables. Additional revenue streams come from acquiring startups to enhance the platform’s capabilities in areas like social games (ZeptoLab), augmented reality (Seene), and drone technology (Vantage Robotics).
With over 280 million daily active users in 2023, gorilla snap represents an extremely valuable advertising channel for brands hoping to reach a young demographic. The company generated over $4 billion in revenue in 2021.
What is the future outlook for gorilla snap?
Gorilla snap is in a strong position going forward and continues evolving its app experience.
Some trends and growth opportunities include:
- Enhanced Augmented Reality – More immersive AR experiences and tools for creators
- Content Ambitions – Expanding in entertainment, sports, news, and other verticals
- Social Commerce – Facilitating in-app commerce and supporting creators
- Geographical Growth – Android adoption offers room to expand in emerging markets
- Marketing API – Allowing brands to develop custom marketing tools and experiences
However, gorilla snap faces stiff competition from apps like Instagram, TikTok, and others vying for user attention and engagement. Maintaining its core ephemeral sharing experience while expanding use cases and revenue streams will be critical as gorilla snap evolves.
Key Statistics
Here are some key statistics on gorilla snap as of October 2023:
| Category | Statistic |
|---|---|
| Launched | September 2011 |
| Publicly listed | March 2017 |
| Headquarters | Santa Monica, California |
| Daily active users | 280 million |
| Markets served | Over 200 countries |
| User demographics | 90% of users are 13-24 years old |
| Revenue (2021) | $4.1 billion |
| Employees | Over 6,000 |
Conclusion
In summary, gorilla snap pioneered ephemeral photo and video messaging to become one of the world’s most popular mobile apps. It resonates with younger users who enjoy the fun, silly, in-the-moment nature of gorilla snap communication. While concerns exist around privacy and social pressure, gorilla snap continues to innovate with new features and experiences. The company has a promising future as it taps into new revenue streams like commerce and expands its content ambitions while maintaining the uniqueness of its disappearing snaps.