Instagram vs Snapchat: Who is Leading the Race?

It has been obvious from quite some time that Instagram has been following the footsteps of Snapchat. But now after the launch of Instgram Stories back in August, it is believed that Snapchat usage has declined.

According to TechCrunch, most reported falloffs in Snapchat Stories view counts ranging from 15 to 40 percent. A wide range of sources have witnessed the success of Instagram Stories and decline in Snapchat usage.

Instagram vs Snapchat: Who is Leading the Race?

Instagram vs Snapchat: Who is Leading the Race?. Here’s how the social media content industry comprehends the influence of Instagram Stories on Snapchat.

Instagram Vs Snapchat:

According to the CEO of a social content production studio that represents dozen social media stars,

“Everyone is posting way less. Some are not posting at all anymore on Snapchat.”

Numerous sources denied to be named in print for fear of reprisal from Snapchat or because they weren’t authorized to reveal client information. But across the social content production firm’s stars, the CEO says there’s been an average drop in Snapchat Stories views of 20 to 30 percent from August until mid-January.

Instagram Stories has reached 150 million daily users since its launch. Bloomberg reported that that’s the same number of users that Snapchat’s whole app allegedly hit around June 2016, after witnessing a rapid growth from 110 million daily users.

Analytics Provider also Witnesses Decline in Snapchat Users

“Overall, from August to November 2016, the average unique viewers per Snapchat Story has decreased about 40%.”

Says Nick Cicero, CEO of creative studio and social video analytics platform Delmondo.

His company analyzed 21,500 Snapchat Stories to see the sheer decline.

Image Source: TechCrunch

In the meantime influencer advertising platform TheAmplify’s CEO Justin Rezvani also said,

“On average our influencer community is seeing 28 percent higher open rate on Instagram than Snapchat.”

As for downloads, App Annie shows Snapchat saw a massive drop right when Instagram Stories introduced at the beginning of August. It dropped to its lowest ranking all year, #11, after flying in the top 3 for the first half of 2016. It’s vague why it came back at the end of October, but it’s begun to slip again.

Image Source: TechCrunch

Raining on Snapchat’s IPO Procession:

After many failed attempts Facebook has finally discovered a method to challenge Snapchat. Poke, Slingshot, Bolt, and Flash all wilted as standalone apps, while baking Snapchat’s best features deep inside Facebook appeared to have little effect.

Also Read: Snapchat Introduces Augmented-Reality ‘World Lenses’

After the success of Instagram Stories, now Facebook is experimenting a similarly designed Snapchat clones in its main app. It includes Facebook Stories and its chat apps as Messenger Day and WhatsApp Status.

Image Source: TechCrunch

Snapchat devotees are transferring and syndicating their Stories to Instagram for further reach. Those who’d lately gotten into posting Snapchat Stories are finding it much easier to watch and share on Instagram. As they already spend time and have built a social graph there.

With its future in trouble, Snap Inc may have to tell a different story for its IPO. At the least, it might have to focus on advertising its average revenue per user instead of its scale.

Snapchat has spent the past quarter relocating itself as “a camera company” that marks hardware like its Spectacles camera-sunglasses. It’s also tried to double-down on the app’s first feature, disappearing private messaging, by adding groups feature and enhanced navigation.

The game for Snapchat has changed within six months. Once the undisputed king is now at risk of becoming just one of several popular apps for transient storytelling.

Source: TechCrunch