The popularity of Snapchat among celebrities, influencers and teens made the app one of the most vibrant social media platforms.
Snapchat is facing criticism after a former employee of the social messaging company alleged that CEO Evan Spiegel once said India was “too poor” for the social network to expand its global base. The statement was apparently made in 2015 but has come into light thanks to Anthony Pompliano, who has sued Snapchat for having inflated numbers about user data to investors. Pompliano’s lawsuit against the company was made public a few days ago.
Obviously Spiegel’s remarks on calling India “too poor” has enraged millions of Indians, most of whom have never used the app. And ever since the news broke of Snapchat disrespecting India, users have started to delete the app. #UninstallSnapchat and #BoycottSnapchat are currently trending on Twitter.
Snapchat is a popular messaging and photo-sharing mobile app, with over 161 million daily active users worldwide. The popularity of Snapchat among celebrities, influencers and teens made the app one of the most vibrant social media platforms. Snapchat soared in popularity after it created self-deleting pictures. Essentially, the app lets you quickly send disappearing messages, photos and videos – either directly to friends or to everyone who follows your Snapchat account. Snapchat has also introduced a Stories feature, which the company introduced in 2013. The concepts have been so popular that rival Facebook has adopted it across its platforms since.
The app’s growth is fueled by its innovative features and its popularity among the urban youth. While there is no clarity on the exact user base of Snapchat in India, some believe the app has 4 million users here as of last year. This is a small number, which means it is nowhere no close to Instagram, Twitter or Facebook in terms of popularity. Although the app is free to download, Snapchat hasn’t been a success if we go by the unverified numbers. Which also means users in India don’t care much about Snapchat. Neither do smartphone makers. So while Facebook, Instagram and Twitter come pre-bundled on most smartphones, Snapchat never is.
Snapchat’s popularity in India is limited to some Bollywood actors and celebrities trying to tap into its mostly urban teen user base. Given that Facebook and WhatsApp both now have the features which makes Snapchat what it is, it will be tough for this company to get Indian users to adopt it in favour of the others. Also, Snapchat is not a platform everyone can understand and this learning element is a big hurdle for most new users.
If it was purely about how Snapchat is for the elite, then Speigel clearly does not understand that the Indian middle class is bigger than the population of the US. His ignorance of the demography could actually be making the company overlook a huge business opportunity. But then at the end of the day, Snapchat has nothing to offer the Indian user and it is not the other way round.
Anuj Bhatia is a seasoned personal technology writer at indianexpress.com with a career spanning over a decade. Active in the domain since 2011, he has established himself as a distinct voice in tech journalism, specializing in long-form narratives that bridge the gap between complex innovation and consumer lifestyle.
Experience & Career: Anuj has been a key contributor to The Indian Express since late 2016. Prior to his current tenure, he served as a Senior Tech Writer at My Mobile magazine and held a role as a reviewer and tech writer at Gizbot. His professional trajectory reflects a rigorous commitment to technology reporting, backed by a postgraduate degree from Banaras Hindu University.
Expertise & Focus Areas: Anuj’s reporting covers the spectrum of personal technology, characterized by a unique blend of modern analysis and historical context. His key focus areas include:
Core Technology: Comprehensive coverage of smartphones, personal computers, apps, and lifestyle tech.
Deep-Dive Narratives: Specializes in composing longer-form feature articles and explainers that explore the intersection of history, technology, and popular culture.
Global & Local Scope: Reports extensively on major international product launches from industry titans like Apple and Google, while simultaneously covering the ecosystem of indie and home-grown tech startups.
Niche Interests: A dedicated focus on vintage technology and retro gaming, offering readers a nostalgic yet analytical perspective on the evolution of tech.
Authoritativeness & Trust
Anuj is a trusted voice in the industry, recognized for his ability to de-jargonize trending topics and provide context to rapid technological advancements. His authority is reinforced by his on-ground presence at major international tech conferences and his nuanced approach to product reviews. By balancing coverage of the world's most valuable tech brands with emerging startups, he offers a holistic and objective view of the global technology landscape.
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The popularity of Snapchat among celebrities, influencers and teens made the app one of the most vibrant social media platforms.
