Stopping by CNBC earlier today, SnapChat‘s CEO Evan Spiegel made the vague semi-announcement that the notorious tween sexting app is currently experimenting with “this really awesome new ad format”. Whatever that means.
As with any hyper-popular app, the move to paid advertising was inevitable, but given SnapChat’s self described focus on “ephemeral media“, it’s hard to imagine an ad-inclusive scenario that actually works. The most obvious as well as obnoxious solution would have companies sending you ads in the form of otherwise normal — if perhaps more innocent — SnapChat pics.
Because if you’re wistfully hoping that the ads might be of the meeting-hot-singles-in-your-area nature, you’re in for some disappointment. Spiegel does NOT want you using his app to send pics of your danger zone to people. Saying on CNBC:
SnapChat is not a great way to send inappropriate content because any photo that I send to you can be saved by taking a screenshot or by taking a photo with another camera. So it’s not a great way to send inappropriate photos.
So for Spiegel’s sake, let’s hope the Fanta girls can keep it tasteful. [CNBC]