Over 660,000 users signed an online petition against Snapchat’s new redesign that’s gradually been making its way to more devices since early December. A Change.org-hosted petition started by one Nic Rumsey from Australia had 666,391 supporters as of Tuesday morning CET, with the initiative criticizing the revamp that’s causing “annoyance” due to its “useless” features. The author of the petition argues Snapchat didn’t become easier to use following the update, adding that some of the new additions to the app go against its “original purposes.”
The redesign was meant to make Snapchat more accessible and consequently boost its acquisition rates but critics repeatedly argued it’s primarily catering to the app’s existing user base which is already highly engaged with the platform. The latest development signals not even the entirety of the service’s core audience is happy with the revision. The main change Snap introduced to its ephemeral messaging app was a separation between the content posted by one’s friends and that created by celebrities and brands. The move limited the reach publishers have on Snapchat but didn’t significantly alter the fundamental mechanics of navigating the app which were often cited as the main reason for its convoluted nature, whereas the changes it did introduce arguably made it even more complex. Instead of separating the content by its type, the new update only filters through it based on its origin, meaning everything from the ephemeral Stories and Direct Messages to Snaps from one’s friends is now presented as part of the same list.
Snap managed to attract nearly nine million people to Snapchat over the final quarter of the year, although its redesign was only introduced near the end of that three-month period and still doesn’t encompass all clients, being available to approximately a third of its global users in total. The company previously acknowledged the update may not be to everyone’s liking but repeatedly reiterated its belief the change will be beneficial to the platform in the long term. Snap is still describing Snapchat as a messaging platform and not a social network, insisting it’s inherently different from services such as Facebook. The company ended the final three months of 2017 $350 million in the red but still posted its best quarter ever, showing signs that its revenue will soon be growing quickly enough to outpace its losses.
Petition Against Snapchat's Redesign