Thursday, the maker of Snapchat introduced Snap Kit, a full-fledged developer kit that allows app makers to bring core features of Snapchat to their apps. (The Verge)
The move is one of the biggest updates Snap has made to its service, which has been resistant to outside developers in the past. But the change is an important one for the company as it struggles with slowing growth under relentless pressure from Facebook. (Mashable)
Snapchat is mindful that a similar move by Facebook more than a decade ago has resulted in the company’s string of controversies over user security and privacy—highlighted by the Cambridge Analytica scandal. To prevent a repeat, Snapchat’s parent company, Snap Inc., said it was taking a number of steps to ensure user data won’t be misappropriated. (LA Times)
Some of the first to make use of these new tools include Pandora, Patreon, Tinder, Eventbrite and Giphy. (Variety)