In modern times, social media is ruling the world. It has now become difficult to find a person not registered on any of these social platforms, not even kids and teenagers.
Several social media platforms offer features like posts, live feeds, stories, reels, chatting, etc. These platforms include Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Whatsapp, Hike, Twitter, and Pinterest.
Among all these platforms, Instagram and Snapchat are compared with one another since both are American applications used worldwide. The two platforms may offer similar features, but they differ.
Key Takeaways
- Instagram is a social media platform primarily used for sharing photos and videos, with features such as filters, stories, and reels.
- Snapchat is also a photo and video-sharing platform with similar features, but it is known for its disappearing content and augmented reality filters.
- While both platforms have a young user base, Instagram tends to be more popular among adults, while Snapchat is more popular among teenagers.
Instagram vs Snapchat
Instagram is a photo and video-sharing app that allows users to post content on their feeds, stories, and reels. Snapchat is a messaging app that enables users to share photos and videos, but the content disappears after a set time; it offers fun filters and lenses for users to use in their posts.
Comparison Table
| Parameter of Comparison | Snapchat | |
|---|---|---|
| Founder and founding year | Instagram was developed jointly by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger and was released in the year 2010 in 32 languages. | Snapchat was developed by Evan Spiegel, Bobby Murphy and Reggie Brown in the year 2011 and was made available in 37 languages across the globe. |
| What is it? | Instagram is an American photo and video-sharing social platform now owned by Facebook Inc. | Snapchat is an American multimedia messaging application that Snap Inc (formerly Snapchat Inc) developed? Its most important or principal feature is that the messages and stories are available for recipients only for a short time. |
| Type of content | The types of content shared on Instagram include Images, Videos, Stories, Live Feeds, Conversations, etc., that are either filtered or unfiltered. Disappearing messages is the latest feature offered by Instagram. | Snapchat allows users to send and receive content as stories, images or short videos; these snaps and stories can be edited with filters, effects, text, drawings, etc. |
| Analytics and advertisements | Instagram offers insights for business accounts and many free analytical tools. It is a powerful platform to advertise on and is also cheaper. | Snapchat offers only a few paid analytical tools. It has a robust ad manager that targets the audience effectively. However, it is an expensive platform to do advertisements. |
| Worldwide users | Instagram has a stronger user base, with around 400 million users using it daily and 700 million users using Instagram weekly. Instagram story is one of its most used features, with 250 million daily users. | Snapchat has a comparatively weaker user base, with approximately 173 million daily users. |
What is Instagram?
Instagram is an American photo and video-sharing platform owned by Facebook. It was developed by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger and debuted in 2010.
It is available in 32 languages for the users.
Instagram was initially launched for iOS but later developed for Android. The app allows a person to share pictures and videos with or without filters.
It offers story sharing, hashtags, location tagging, live feed, etc. It also allows a person to decide whether his profile is public. Based on browsing, it also provides random feeds.
Instagram provides many paid and unpaid analytical tools for business accounts. Also, it is a powerful advertising platform. Instagram is one of the most used social media platforms, with around 400 million daily and 700 million weekly users.
Instagram is also one of the riskiest social media platforms, especially for kids and teenagers.
What is Snapchat?
Snapchat is an American multimedia messaging application originally developed by Snap Inc and later renamed Snap Inc. It was developed by Bobby Murphy, Evan Spiegel and Reggie Brown and was launched in 2011 and is currently available in 37 languages.
Snapchat aims at sharing images and messages that are visible to the recipient only for a short time. Initially launched for person-to-person image sharing, features like story and short video sharing were later added.
It offers a password-protected space named ‘my eyes only’ to save photos.
Snapchat is a powerful tool for business accounts since it targets the audience effectively but provides only a few analytical tools. It is one of the safest social media platforms.
Although safe, it has a weaker user base than other platforms. Daily users of Snapchat are around 173 million.
Main Differences Between Instagram and Snapchat
- Instagram and Snapchat are American social media platforms.
- Instagram is an image and video-sharing platform, while Snapchat is a story and snap-sharing platform.
- Instagram was developed in 2010 by Mike Krieger and Kevin Systrom; on the other hand, Snapchat was developed in 2012 by Bobby Murphy, Evan Spiegel and Reggie Brown.
- Facebook Inc owns Instagram, and Snap Inc owns Snapchat.
- Instagram is available in 32 languages worldwide, while Snapchat is available in 37 languages.
- Features of Instagram include photo and video sharing, stories, live feeds, filters, location tagging, person tagging, disappearing messages, etc. In contrast, features of Snapchat include stories and snap sharing, filters, short video sharing, etc.
- Instagram offers free and paid insights for business accounts, whereas Snapchat only offers a few paid insights.
- Instagram and Snapchat are both effective advertisement platforms. However, Instagram advertising is comparatively cheaper.
- Instagram is a more widely used application with a strong user base of 400 million daily users, while Snapchat lags far behind with only 173 daily users.
- Regarding security and privacy, Instagram is riskier than Snapchat since a post remains forever or as long as you want on Instagram, whereas it remains only for 24 hours on Snapchat.
- http://149.169.27.83/instagram-icwsm.pdf
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0747563216303041
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I have to admit, I never realized the extensive reach of Instagram and the particularly strong user base it boasts. It’s an eye-opening perspective.
The worldwide user statistics are definitely thought-provoking. It’s remarkable how social media platforms have become integral to modern life.
Absolutely, the reach and user base of platforms like Instagram are clear indicators of their impact on society as a whole.
Social media has undoubtedly transformed how we communicate and share information. It’s fascinating to consider the profound impact these platforms have on our lives.
Indeed, the influence of social media is a topic with layers of complexity that warrant further exploration.
I agree with the post’s content, but the article could have delved deeper into the influence of social media on society as a whole.
I find it very interesting how both platforms offer similar features but cater to different age groups. Social media is a fascinating topic to study.
I couldn’t agree more. It’s amazing how the target audience can shape a platform’s success.
I think the comparison table provided is very informative. It’s clear to see the differences between Instagram and Snapchat, despite some similarities.
Absolutely, the founder and founding year of a platform can really shape its trajectory and features.
I never realized the user base difference was so significant between Instagram and Snapchat. Interesting insights.
Apart from the detailed analysis of Instagram and Snapchat, I would have liked to see a discussion on the evolving nature of social media and its implications for the future.
Agreed, the future trajectory of social media and its potential impact on society is a compelling area for further examination.
The dynamic nature of social media’s evolution is certainly a topic that holds great significance for the future.
I appreciate the detailed comparison between Instagram and Snapchat. The insights into worldwide users and the type of content each platform offers are very enlightening.
Absolutely, gaining a deeper understanding of these platforms provides valuable knowledge for navigating social media.
This is a great breakdown of Instagram and Snapchat. The risks associated with social media are definitely worth considering, particularly in the case of younger users.
I couldn’t agree more. The safety of young users on social media is a crucial issue that needs more attention.
The user base and target audience for each platform play an important role in the types of content shared, and it’s important to be aware of these differences.
The risks associated with social media, especially for adolescents, is a critical aspect that needs more attention and consideration.
Absolutely, the potential impact of social media on young users is a matter of concern that should be addressed with comprehensive measures.
The differences in user base and features between Instagram and Snapchat are significant and are indicative of the unique spaces these platforms occupy in the digital landscape.
The varying demographics and relevant features of Instagram and Snapchat underscore the complexity of social media’s influence on modern users.
Exactly, the distinctiveness of each platform’s appeal and offerings highlights the diverse ways in which users engage with different social media platforms.