Snapchat parent pressured by drop in users

SAN FRANCISCO: Snapchat parent Snap came under selling pressure after a quarterly report showing a loss of one million users even as it grew revenues and narrowed losses.

The California group which operates the smartphone app popular with youth said revenue rose 43 per cent from a year ago to US$298 million in the third quarter, as it narrowed losses to US$118 million from US$325 million. But the key figure of daily active users was 186 million, a drop of one million from the past quarter and a rise of just five per cent from last year.

Snap shares slipped 5.4 per cent in after-hours trade on the results. Analysts say Snapchat has become the most popular social network among teens and young adults, but user growth has stalled as Facebook and its Instagram platformintroduceservicessimilar to those of Snapchat, known for its disappearing messages.

“We’re investing in longterm growth opportunities and driving operational efficiencies. We achieved record revenue and strong bottom-line results this quarter and expect a record fourth quarter, as we continue to invest in innovation for our community and scale our business,” said Tim Stone, Snap’s chief financial officer.

Although Snapchat is best known for its smartphone messaging, it has also developed partnerships with numerous media outlets eager to reach its audience with news, video and other content. — AFP