What does the Snapchat logo mean ?

Snapchat now has more than 300 million active users around the world. Thus, Internet users quickly recognize the brand logo in the same way as the icon of famous applications such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or YouTube. The origin and meaning of this ghost, however, remain unknown to the general public. Discover the essentials on the visual identity of Snapchat !

Why the Snapchat logo is a ghost ?

The Snapchat ghost refers to the basic concept of the application created in 2011. The goal was to send ephemeral photos or videos that would then disappear from the recipient’s phone. The project was called Picaboo at the start. This term can result in hide and seek in French. This is also an interjection used to scare children in Halloween.

The ghost is also one of the emblematic costumes of this period of the year.

The creators of the application have even kept this funny reference by showing and disappearing the logo. The animation crystallizes both the concept of the platform and the effect “Picaboo ! ” research. Since then, Snapchat has made some changes to its ghost called Ghostface Chillah.

This nickname parody the stage name of rapper Ghostface Killah of the American group Wu-Tang Clan.

Originally, the ghost was smiling and drew the tongue. This face made it possible to evoke the light and friendly side of the media sharing network. The members actually send ephemeral images to have fun, tease themselves, be afraid … In 2013, the logo lost its tongue, their mouth and his eyes so as not to hold attention to this character.

The change also optimizes the display of the icon and encourage users to appropriate the brand image.

Why a gray square on snap ?

On Snapchat, gray symbolizes the failure of the desired action by the sender. The gray arrows indicate, for example, the refusal of a friend request. For its part, the gray square means that a Snap sent is either expired or pending.

This status may notably come from the fact that the person has declined your friend request. The other user has also been able to block you or delete your contact list.

To be fixed, look at the recipient’s score in the popup displaying its name on Snapchat. This indicator lists the number of snaps exchanged with members of the social network. If you do not see any score near the name, the individual in question blocked you or deleted from his list of friends.

Your snap is therefore unlikely to reach their destination.

An outstanding snap can also be explained by deleting your friend’s profile. After closing the account, the name of the user does not immediately disappear from the lists of his friends. However, you will no longer be able to send him snap. You will only see the mention “pending” near the name of your interlocutor.

This profile will eventually disappear over time.

What is the snapchat slogan ?

During his early years, Snapchat used the slogan “Life is more fun when you live in the moment”. This leitmotif can result in “life is more fun when you enjoy the present moment”. Sometimes you can also see the translation “Do not worry about what’s going on afterwards”.

In any case, the platform values living fully and sharing every moment with other people. You can still find this idea in the special slogan currently “The Fastest Way to Share at times”. This sentence literally means “the fastest way to share a moment”.

For its part, the company prefers the grip “Snap INC. is a camera company “. This slogan marks the difference with other social networks displaying the news feed in priority. You must therefore get out of the interface before making a selfie and publish images. Conversely, Snapchat gives access to the camera from the home screen. So you can immediately take and share photos.

Where Snapchat comes from, what is his story ?

Snapchat was imagined by Franck “Reggie” Brown, then developed in the company of Evan Spiegel and Robert “Bobby” Murphy. The latter refined and presented Picaboo as a study project at Stanford University. The initial idea was to be able to share compromising photos with friends, without leaving any traces.

The application thus promotes the right to be forgotten on social media.

Picaboo changed its name for Snapchat when it was launched in September 2011. Since then, the concept has been transformed into a listed company by Evan Spiegel and Bobby Murphy. Reggie Brown was ousted from the project in the meantime, but obtained an amicable compensation of 157.5 million before the IPO. The company currently has several notable shareholders, including:

• The Chinese group tencent (approximately 15 %);
• Robert Murphy (9.58 %);
• Evan Spiegel (8.66%);
• The Vanguard Group (4.81 %);
• Tybourne Capital Management (3.19 %);
• Fidelity Management & Research CO (2.18 %);
• Oppenheimerfunds INC (2.12 %);
• First Trust Advisors LP (2.01 %);
• Institutional Venture Partners (1.76 %);
• Susquehanna Financial Group LLLP (1.51 %).

Since its creation, Snapchat has refused several buyout offers of technology giants like Facebook, Google, Tencent … The company wants to keep its independence and continue its own development.