Snapchat’s ‘Reals’ Announcement

Snapchat announced on April 1st that it is changing the name of its Spotlight feed to “Reals.” The move appears to be a playful jab at Instagram, which has been frequently accused of copying features from other social media apps.

Evan Spiegel’s Announcement

The announcement came in a video featuring Snap co-founder and CEO Evan Spiegel. In the video, Spiegel describes “Reals” as a space “where real people share real moments. Really.” He emphasized the authenticity of Snapchat, stating, “People feel free to be their full selves and to keep it Real on Snapchat.”

Highlighting Snapchat’s Originality

Spiegel also used the video as an opportunity to remind users that Snapchat pioneered the Stories format. He noted that “For years, people have used Snapchat for visual communication, and self-expression, to watch Stories of their friends, and that authenticity and connection is what’s made Snapchat so special.” This is a clear reference to Instagram’s later adoption of the Stories feature.

Spotlight’s Origins and the ‘Reals’ Change

Snapchat’s Spotlight feed, which the “Reals” name temporarily replaces, is the app’s version of short-form vertical videos, similar to Instagram Reels and TikTok. Spotlight launched after both TikTok and Instagram had already established their short-form video offerings.

Is it a Joke?

Given the date, April 1st, the change to “Reals” is widely suspected to be an April Fools’ Day joke. The video’s abundance of “real” puns further supports this theory. Snapchat has been contacted for confirmation.

‘Reals’ Already Visible in the App

As of today, the Spotlight feed within the Snapchat iOS app has already been updated to display the “Reals” name for some users. This suggests the change, whether temporary or permanent, is actively being rolled out.