Move aside, Google Maps: Snapchat’s Snap Map has hit a major milestone with 400 million monthly active users.
Launched in 2017, Snap Map began as a GPS-based feature that allowed users to see their friends’ real-time locations. Those who opted in could view a live map showing not just where their friends were, but also what was happening nearby—and share their own location as well.
Since then, Snapchat has significantly expanded its map features. Last year, Snap Map introduced “Footsteps,” a tool that helps users visualize how much of the world they’ve explored. For instance, the app might report that you’ve covered 75% of your local area. The feature is reminiscent of Google Maps’s “Timeline,” which tracks visited places through Location History.
“Our Map is about more than getting directions from point A to point B; it enables Snapchatters to stay connected, in real time, to their physical world,” Snapchat said, per Adweek.
Snapchat also launched “Promoted Places,” allowing brands to advertise and highlight all their locations on Snap Map, making it easier for users to discover new spots. McDonald’s and Taco Bell are among the brands leveraging this feature.
Currently, Snapchat is the only major social media platform with a map feature as a central part of its experience, offering real-time social discovery. That may soon change, though—Instagram has confirmed it’s developing a similar “Friend Map” feature. This will allow users to post text and video updates tied to specific locations, with friends’ updates displayed alongside one another on the map.
Despite Instagram’s ambitions, it still has a long way to go to catch up. “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.”
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