Your go-to app for self-destructing picture messages, Snapchat, will soon be introducing advertisements, TV and movie clips as well as news articles, according to recent reports.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the startup who famously declined a $3 billion acquisition offer from Mark Zuckerberg‘s Facebook are in talks with advertisers and media companies, such as The Daily Mail’s MailOnline, about a new service called “Snapchat Discovery”, which would feature the paid-for content.
The service will reportedly let users read news articles as well as watch video clips of TV shows or movies by holding down on the screen, as they do with photos and other messages on the app.
Mashable reports, major brands like Taco Bell and McDonald’s have already set up their own Snapchat accounts used to mass message users with their advertisements. Some companies have even brokered sponsorship deals with Snapchat stars who are paid to distribute branded messages to their large following.
Recent Snapchat updates include the introduction of geo-filters to the app, which involves the addition of specific art and labels for snaps taken in certain cities and destinations. The company also added text and video chats this year, as well as as the “Our Story” function, which lets users collaborate with other people on one narrative.
According to the Journal, by partnering with content providers and advertisers, Snapchat would reap in revenue that would demonstrate its potential to investors. Some concerns still remain though as to how users will react to the sudden introduction of ads to the app.
Dan Costa, the editor of PCMag told CNBC that they company would have to take a light-handed approach to introducing these changes if they want to retain users or even attract new ones. “Generally speaking, users hate advertisements and distraction in the social media feeds,” he said. “Users hate the concept, but if it is done well they will accept it.”
The Snapchat Discovery service is expected to launch in November. Snapchat has not commented on the reports.
