Snap CEO Evan Spiegel explains his joke job title on LinkedIn

Snap CEO Evan Spiegel explains his joke job title on LinkedIn

  • 18.03.2025 17:07
  • businessinsider.com
  • Keywords: AI, Startup

Evan Spiegel clarifies that his LinkedIn title as "VP Product @ Meta" was a joke by an employee, highlighting Meta's history of mimicking Snapchat's features. This reflects their ongoing rivalry in tech.

Meta ProductsSNAsentiment_dissatisfiedMETAsentiment_satisfied
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Estimated market influence

Snap

Snap

Negativesentiment_dissatisfied
Analyst rating: Neutral

Evan Spiegel's joke about VP Product @ Meta on LinkedIn

Meta

Meta

Positivesentiment_satisfied
Analyst rating: Strong buy

Meta copied features from Snapchat but still leading in technology and platform openness.

Context

Analysis of Snap CEO Evan Spiegel's LinkedIn Post and Market Implications

Key Facts and Data Points

  • Date: March 18, 2025
  • LinkedIn Profile Manipulation: A Snap employee temporarily listed Evan Spiegel as "VP Product @ Meta" as a gag.
  • Meta's Copycat Features:
    • Snapchat introduced disappearing Stories in 2013 (24-hour limit).
    • Meta launched Instagram Stories in 2016 and Facebook Stories in 2017.
    • WhatsApp introduced a similar feature called "Disappearing Messages" in 2017.

Competitive Dynamics

  • Snap's Innovation Lead: Snapchat was the first to pioneer user Stories and AR selfie masks/filters, establishing it as an innovator in the social media space.
  • Meta's Response: Meta has consistently copied Snap's features, with Zuckerberg acknowledging this in a 2017 earnings call: "We were a little late to the trend initially... but I do think at this point we're pretty much ahead in terms of the technology that we're building."

Strategic Considerations

  • Snap's Positioning: Snap continues to innovate with products like Spectacles AR glasses (launched before Meta's Orion glasses).
  • Meta's Scale and Resources: Despite being a follower, Meta leverages its vast user base and platform integration to scale copied features across Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp.

Market Implications

  • Increased Competition in Social Media Features: The battle between Snap and Meta highlights the importance of innovation vs. replication in the social media landscape.
  • AR Technology as a Growth Driver: Both companies are investing heavily in AR, with Snap focusing on niche products like Spectacles, while Meta aims to integrate AR across its ecosystem.

Long-Term Effects

  • Potential Regulatory Scrutiny: If Meta continues to rely on copying features, it may face antitrust concerns or regulatory scrutiny for unfair competition.
  • Investor Sentiment: Investors will likely monitor how Snap maintains its innovation edge and whether Meta can transition from replication to genuine innovation.

Conclusion

The incident underscores the cutthroat nature of the tech industry, where innovation is often quickly replicated by larger competitors. While Snap's ability to stay ahead in AR could solidify its market position, Meta's scale and resources may eventually allow it to overtake Snap in key metrics.