Tech Desk 
Sep 17, 2024
Snapchat unveiled that it is set to roll out a simplified version of the app to select users, confirmed during its Snap Partner Summit.
“Simple Snapchat” declutters the app’s home screen, removing the Snap Map and Stories tabs, and consolidates its navigation bar around three icons: chat on the left, camera in the middle, and Snapchat’s TikTok competitor, Spotlight, on the right.
Snapchat is comprised of five main tabs — one for the Snap Map, private chats, the camera, Stories, and Spotlight, its competitor to TikTok and Instagram Reels.
Once this revamped design is launched to Snapchat’s 850 million users, the Snap Map will be accessible from the messaging tab, along with Stories from your friends and creators you follow.
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To the right of the camera will be a new, unified For You feed of full-screen videos from publishers and creators. Currently, Snapchat has essentially combined Spotlight with content from media brands such as The Wall Street Journal and the Daily Mail.
The major aim of this redesign is to make Snapchat more accessible and an attractive way to view videos you’d normally go to TikTok or Instagram for.
Snap Inc. CEO Evan Spiegel said: “One of the things that creators have done very effectively uses short-form video to grow their Stories audience and then monetize the Stories through our revenue share program.”
“I think that will become even easier with this app layout, where the Stories from your friends or creators you’re following live on the chat page, and then you can discover new creators or new content in full screen on the third tab,” Spiegel added.
