When Was Snapchat Created? (Brief Timeline 2011-2025)

You have been using Snapchat for ages, but have you ever thought about when was Snapchat created or who created it?

Well, many of us might not know this, and honestly, even, I didn’t have any idea until it clicked in my head, and I started researching. The search engines are filled with questions like, When was Snapchat created?, Why was Snapchat created? and When did Snapchat become popular?, and more

Therefore, I have put together all the associated info and answered it in this article. So, read until the end to find all the answers in one go.

Quick Answer:

Snapchat was primarily launched as ‘Picaboo’ in 2011 but was later rebranded as ‘Snapchat’ in September 2012.

What is Snapchat?

Snapchat is a mobile messaging application that allows users to send and receive photos and videos, commonly known as Snaps. 

But is this application just about exchanging snaps? No, it’s much more than that!

In addition to its snaps and messaging capabilities, it has evolved into a comprehensive social media platform featuring Location services, Time-sensitive, Snap Map, Safety tools, and much more.

Snap positions itself as a majorly prevalent app in social media dynamics, especially among the younger generation, who value confidentiality and the short-lasting nature.

When was Snapchat Created? Brief Timeline (2011-2025)

The app was created in 2011 by Evan Spiegel, Bobby Murphy, and Reggie Brown, former students at Stanford University.

But did you know Snapchat had a former name, ‘Picaboo’? Upon receiving feedback from some initial users, it was rebranded to Snapchat in September 2012. Within a year of its launch, it was breaking the competition, primarily among teenagers and young adults. 

The CEOs decided to add new features and elements to make the most of its popularity. So, to track the Snapchat history of evolution, here’s a timeline that will help you out in navigating Snap history.

As noted, Snap was initially launched as “Picaboo” in 2011 by three former students at Stanford University. It allows users to send destructive photos to each other. This application quickly gained fame among young college students.

Noticing the popularity, the CEOs surveyed to check what improvements they could make to the application, and they noticed several complaints regarding the name. So, they decided to change it.

By 2012, a year after the Snapchat release, the petition to change the name was fulfilled, and since then it has been the same—SNAPCHAT.

Along with the name amendments, they enabled users to send short clips that could be saved after viewing, enhancing user engagement. 

In 2013, Snap introduced the Stories feature, allowing users to showcase their beautiful Snap moments that could be viewed by their friends for 24 hours, enhancing the realm of shared moments.

Now that Snap was already acing the competition among the major popular networking sites such as Instagram, Facebook, and more, the addition of the new feature in 2013 added glory to the spotlight. But do you know what exactly the Snapchat lenses are?

Well, these lenses allow users to apply augmented reality filters to their selfies, and after the introduction of Snapchat lenses, the application became extremely popular and increased the app’s usage.

Another revamp to the application was the introduction of the Discover feature in 2015, which enabled users to share short videos, articles, and more. After this, Snap gained attention as a platform for media sharing, along with news and entertainment.

After the long-lost struggle, the hard work paid off in 2017!

Snap Inc. officially went public on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol SNAP. It attracted significant media attention and doubled its popularity in the market.

Among the leading peak moments, Snapchat faced a controversy fallout in 2018 when it introduced a major redesign of its app, creating controversy among its users.

The major reason behind this fallout was that the application developers didn’t take the users’ needs into consideration. Thus, half of the users navigated to other platforms to enjoy their social media persona.

After facing the backlash, the only motto was to gain back their audience and popularity as it was back then.

Thus, they introduced two new features in 2025, which were Snapchat Spotlight and Snapchat Plus, and it worked in their favor. The spotlight features allow users to share short videos to earn money, similar to TikTok. Whereas Snapchat Plus is a subscription service offering exclusive content, experimental features, and more.

Now, the app is rich in features. It allows us to select our best lenses and add them to favorites, adding locations, creating group chats and more. 

Why and When Did Snapchat Become So Popular?

Snapchat gained immense popularity after the introduction of the Stories feature in 2013, but it wasn’t that one single incident that made it popular overnight; it was more like a series of events. So, let’s track the exact moments behind Snapchat’s popularity. 

1. Disappearing messages and snaps were one of the core features that made Snapchat flourish among the rest.
2. As mentioned, the introduction of stories was one of the turning points of its success.
3. Despite being developed by millennials, they created an app that resonated with the young people’s needs and a collaborative space for self-expression and quick communication.
4. As it continued to make amends, more people joined Snapchat. Thus, it became more valuable to its users, having a platform to share and connect.
5. Above all, the informal and casual nature of this application was something that boosted its popularity and brought the golden fortune.

Wrapping Up!

After long hardships, Snap gradually made its way back to popularity, and currently, it stands out as one of the top-rated applications in social media dynamics. 

But isn’t it strange how almost everyone uses Snapchat but never thinks, “When was Snapchat created?” or “When did Snapchat become popular?” Nevertheless, better late than never; now that you know precise answers to these, enjoy snapping! 

To make it more enjoyable and add more fun, you can create some unique snapchat usernames. This will make your identity different from others and bring excitement to your snapping. 

Read Next: 15 Go-To Snapchat Alternatives in 2025 for An Exceptional Social Media Experience

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