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Snapchat to Roll Out First Ads This Weekend

 & Angela Moscaritolo Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

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Like it or not — ads are invading Snapchat this weekend.

The self-destructing messaging app maker earlier this month confirmed plans to start rolling out ads, and now it's actually happening. Snapchat on Friday announced that the first ad will arrive this weekend in the "Recent Updates" section for those in the U.S.

"It's the first time we've done anything like this because it's the first time we've been paid to put content in that space," Snapchat wrote in a blog post. "It's going to feel a little weird at first, but we're taking the plunge."

In the post, Snapchat explained that its ads will not be "creepy" and targeted towards users interests.

"The product we're releasing today is a lot simpler," the company said. "An advertisement will appear in your Recent Updates from time to time, and you can choose if you want to watch it. No biggie." Just like Stories, ads will disappear after you view it, or within 24hours.

Snapchat promised to keep your personal communications — including Snaps and Chats — free of ads. As for why, exactly, the company is embracing ads, the answer is simple: "we need to make money," Snapchat said.

"Advertising allows us to support our service while delivering neat content to Snapchatters," they explained. "We promise that we'll use the money we make to continue to surprise the Snapchat community with more terrific products — that's what we love to do!"

News of Snapchat ads comes after some 200,000 Snapchat photos were said to have leaked online thanks to a breach of third-party site Snapsaved.com. Following news of the breach last week, Snapchat was quick to respond, noting that its servers were never compromised and that users were instead victimized by their use of third-party apps.

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade. 

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes. 

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app. 

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth. 

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light. 

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

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