Snapchat announced on Wednesday that Snap Map now has more than 400 million monthly active users, a new milestone for one of the app’s core features.
Launched in 2017, Snap Map was originally a way for users to see their friends’ locations and browse public snaps from around the world. Over time, the feature has evolved and now offers ways for users to discover local hotspots and find things to do.
Snap Map’s success is important for Snapchat, as it’s a crucial part of the social network and gives it a competitive edge over rivals like Instagram and TikTok, both of which don’t offer real-time social discovery in the way that Snap Map does.
Instagram is aware of this, as the Meta-owned social network has been spotted working on a “Friend Map” that would allow users to see their friends’ locations in real time.
“Snap Map is one of the most used mobile maps in the world, and we’re thrilled to see our community continue to grow,” said Ceci Mourkogiannis, VP of Product at Snap, in a statement to TechCrunch. “The Snap Map is helping hundreds of millions connect with friends and their favorite places and discover what’s happening around them, making the world feel more connected every day.”
The news comes as Snapchat has been updating Snap Map with additional functionality over the years. Last year, the company launched a “Footsteps” feature that lets you see how much of the world you’ve explored and track where you’ve traveled.
Plus, Snapchat rolled out “Promoted Places” on Snap Map as a way for users to discover new places. For brands, Promoted Places offers the ability to advertise and showcase all of their locations on Snap Map.
