Snapchat, the photo messaging application released in 2011, is poised to reach a user membership of 200 million, an investigation conducted by Business Insider reveals.
Although Snapchat officials have estimated its current user membership at around 100 million, that figure is said to be closer to 200 million. The company is said to only look at mobile monthly active users, not the total monthly active users figure. This is because the application is based on mobile devices only.
Former Goldman Sachs executive Anthony Noto wrote an e-mail to Snapchat Chief Executive Officer Evan Spiegel in April, mentioning the high number of monthly active users.
"FB's mobile only MAU # reached 341 million which is outstanding for Snapchat when you think about where your MAU number is vs 341mm and you have only been available for 2 years and don't have a desktop user base of 1+bn plus to target or the same geographic footprint or brand awareness," he wrote in the e-mail, according to Business Insider.
However, the company has also been criticized over its terms of privacy and security policies.
Last month the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed charges against the company, claiming that "snap" messages do not simply "disappear" upon being opened; instead, they are liable for sale to third-party applications.
Snapchat "deceived consumers with promises about the disappearing nature of messages sent through the service," and "Snapchat also deceived consumers over the amount of personal data it collected and the security measures taken to protect that data from misuse and unauthorized disclosure," the FTC wrote in a statement, according to ZDNet.
Despite ongoing issues, the company continues to increase its membership base.
