Snapchat Launches

Setting the scene

Disappearing timers promised lower-stakes sharing than permanent Facebook walls, though bullying and sexting panics followed adoption curves.

What happened

Spectacles hardware experiments and Bitmoji acquisitions showed ambition beyond chat bubbles.

Why it still matters

IPO narratives emphasized camera-company branding over messaging alone. Memorable detail: early ghost logo sketches became one of the most recognizable silhouettes in consumer apps.

Background

Stories formats later colonized Instagram and TikTok, proving vanishing content could still build massive ad businesses.