Snapchat Will Introduce Ads, Attempt To Keep Them Other Than Creepy

As reported by VentureBeat, dissapearing-message service Snapchat is introducing ads. Considering how most people feel about ads, they're trying to ease them in gently: "Ads can be ignored: Users will not be required to watch them. If you do view an ad, or if you ignore it for 24 hours, it will disappear just like Stories do." Hard to say how much it will mollify the service's users, but the company says "We won’t put advertisements in your personal communication – things like Snaps or Chats. That would be totally rude. We want to see if we can deliver an experience that’s fun and informative, the way ads used to be, before they got creepy and targeted."

Comments

The first one is always free

[Animats]

That's how it always starts. In a few years, more ads than content.

You are not the customer. You are the product.

Re: The first one is always free

[cmorriss]

The advertiser is the customer, but we are the user, not simply the product. It's an important distinction. The companies that have done the best in social networks have focused more on the user. Obviously they're going to have to get money somehow. Advertisements is one way. They could also start charging to use the service. One or the other is inevitable and if it's a big problem for you, the user, then you're free to stop using it.

Re:Nope.

[JaredOfEuropa]

Indeed. When were online ads ever "fun and informative?"

Regretting their pride now

[wiredlogic]

The Snapchat team are really regretting that they were too prideful to take a $3B buyout. Now they get to enjoy the quick, flaming descent into being penniless refugees from a failed startup.