Snapchat and other ephemeral forms of communication are challenging the old guard of Facebook and Instagram. Blue Hill Research illuminates why Snapchat's meteoric rise in popularity is no accident in a world where millennials came of age without true privacy.

1. The Rising Ephemeral
Social Media Tide
James Haight, Research Analyst, Blue Hill Research
©2013 Blue Hill Research. All Rights Reserved.
©2013 Blue Hill Research. All Rights Reserved.

2. The Issue
• It doesn’t matter if Snapchat succeeds
or fails, the new age of social media is
here and marketers need to prepare.
• Savvy companies will recognize that
Snapchat is blazing a path for the new
age of messaging tools
©2013 Blue Hill Research. All Rights Reserved.
What’s the Fuss?
Snapchat reportedly turned down an
offer from Facebook for $3 billion.
This sparked conversations about the
legitimacy of the valuation and viability
of Snapchat

3. Driving Forces
Snapchat’s meteoric rise should come as no surprise given it’s
ideal positioning to take advantage of opposing influences on the
millennial generation
The millennial generation grew up in a world
where every interaction is documented for friends
on social networks, but every picture may have
long-term consequences.
Millennials are caught between two dueling forces:
1. A social life revolving around sharing and
messaging; and
2. The ramifications of a permanent paper trail.
©2013 Blue Hill Research. All Rights Reserved.
What does it do?
Snapchat lets you send a picture message
(which can contain text and drawings)
to a select group of friends. These
messages are erased from the sender
and receiver’s phone in
10 seconds or less

4. Snapchat’s Popularity
Snapchat has experienced widespread
popularity since its founding in
September 2011
• Estimates place Snapchat’s user base
at ~36 million
• Snapchat has released that it currently
processes over 400 million “snaps”
per day
©2013 Blue Hill Research. All Rights Reserved.

5. It’s a Party
Many players are moving into the
space each with their own spin on
perceived privacy
©2013 Blue Hill Research. All Rights Reserved.

6. Thank you!
Learn more about Snapchat on our blog or download our full
research report
To join the conversation, follow us on
©2013 Blue Hill Research. All Rights Reserved.
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