Snap Launches Creator Subscription Feature Amid User Growth Challenges
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 01 2026
0mins
Should l Buy SNAP?
Source: Coinmarketcap
Snap Inc. shares fell 3.00% as the stock hit a 52-week low. The company has introduced a 'Creator Subscriptions' feature, allowing creators to earn between $4.99 and $19.99 monthly from fans, aiming to diversify revenue streams amid a slowdown in user growth. Despite reaching 474 million daily active users, Snap experienced a decline of 3 million users from the previous quarter, prompting the need for subscription models to stabilize revenue in light of fluctuating advertising income. The competitive landscape is intensifying as Snap enters a crowded market with rivals like Patreon and OnlyFans, while also facing challenges from YouTube and Instagram's subscription tools, indicating a significant shift in the social media monetization strategy.
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Analyst Views on SNAP
Wall Street analysts forecast SNAP stock price to rise
28 Analyst Rating
2 Buy
24 Hold
2 Sell
Hold
Current: 4.880
Low
7.00
Averages
9.57
High
13.00
Current: 4.880
Low
7.00
Averages
9.57
High
13.00
About SNAP
Snap Inc. is a technology company. Its flagship product, Snapchat, is a visual messaging application that enhances relationships with friends, family, and the world. Snapchat is the Company's core mobile device application and contains five tabs, complemented by additional tools that function outside the application. Snapchatters can interact with any or all the five tabs. Additionally, it offers Snapchat+, its subscription product that provides subscribers access to exclusive, experimental, and pre-release features. Snapchat+ offers a range of features, from allowing Snapchatters to customize the look and feel of their application, to giving special insights into their friendships. The Company also offers Snapchat for Web, a browser-based product that brings Snapchats calling and messaging capabilities to the Web. Its advertising products include AR Ads and Snap Ads. Snap Ads include Single Image or Video Ads, Story Ads, Collection Ads, Dynamic Ads, Commercials, and Sponsored Snaps.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Significant Revenue Growth: Snap Inc. announced that its direct revenue business has exceeded a $1 billion annualized revenue run rate, showcasing the company's success in diversifying its revenue streams and enhancing market confidence in its future growth.
- Expanding User Base: Snapchat's global monthly active users have reached 946 million, nearing the target of one billion, which provides greater advertising revenue potential and strengthens its competitive position in the market.
- Growing Subscription Community: Snap's global subscription community has surpassed 25 million members, indicating the increasing appeal of its Snapchat+ service, which could provide a stable revenue source for the company in the future.
- Positive Market Reaction: The company's shares rose 4% in midday trading, reflecting investor optimism regarding Snap Inc.'s growth prospects, which may attract more attention from investors towards its stock performance.
See More
Snap Introduces Creator Subscriptions to Monetize User Engagement
- User Growth Milestone: Snap's global monthly active users reached 946 million in Q4 2025, an increase of 51 million or 6% year-over-year, indicating significant progress in user acquisition and retention, thereby enhancing its competitive position in the market.
- Revenue Diversification Strategy: Snap's direct revenue segment exceeded a $1 billion annualized revenue run rate, demonstrating the company's success in launching paid services like Snapchat+, Lens+, Snapchat Platinum, and Memories Storage Plans, aimed at diversifying revenue sources to tackle market challenges.
- Creator Subscriptions Feature: Snap launched alpha testing for Creator Subscriptions on February 23, allowing creators to monetize their loyal fan base, which is expected to further enhance the platform's content ecosystem and user engagement, driving long-term revenue growth.
- Earnings Beat Expectations: Snap reported Q4 2025 revenue of $1.72 billion, a 10% increase that surpassed analyst expectations of $1.70 billion, showcasing success in in-app optimizations and new formats, although future revenue projections are slightly below market expectations.
See More
Meta CEO Testifies in Landmark Social Media Safety Trial
- Trial Context: Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is set to testify in Los Angeles Superior Court as part of a significant trial likened to the social media industry's 'Big Tobacco' moment, centered on a young woman claiming addiction to social media has harmed her mental health.
- Allegations: Plaintiff's lawyers accuse Meta and competitors like YouTube and TikTok of misleading the public about the safety of their services, knowing their app designs and features harm young users' mental health, while Meta denies these claims, stating that the jury must determine if Instagram was a substantial factor in the plaintiff's issues.
- Industry Implications: This trial is viewed as a 'Big Tobacco' moment for the social media sector, highlighting growing public concern over potential harms, which could lead to stricter regulations and legal liabilities affecting Meta and its peers' operational frameworks.
- Additional Lawsuits: Meta is also involved in a major trial in New Mexico, where the state's attorney general alleges the company failed to protect children and young users from online predators, intensifying public scrutiny over social media safety measures.
See More
Zuckerberg to Testify in Landmark Social Media Safety Trial
- Trial Context: Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is set to testify in Los Angeles Superior Court as part of a landmark trial likened to the social media industry's 'Big Tobacco' moment, focusing on a young woman's allegations of social media addiction, highlighting widespread public concern over social media safety.
- Allegations: Lawyers for the plaintiff claim that Meta, YouTube, TikTok, and Snap misled the public about the safety of their services, knowing that their app designs and certain features harmed young users' mental health; Meta denies these allegations, asserting that the jury must determine whether Instagram was a substantial factor in the plaintiff's mental health struggles.
- Industry Response: Instagram chief Adam Mosseri testified last week that while problematic social media usage exists, he does not equate it with clinical addiction, a viewpoint that may influence public perceptions of social media use and spark broader discussions about its impacts.
- Future Trials: In addition to the Los Angeles trial, Meta faces another significant trial in New Mexico, where the state attorney general alleges that the company failed to protect children and young users from online predators, indicating increasing legal and public scrutiny on social media companies.
See More
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- Enterprise Sales Team Expansion: The company currently has a five-person enterprise sales team and plans to grow it in the coming months to better serve high-powered professionals such as finance experts and CEOs, thereby improving customer satisfaction and revenue stability.
- Product Security Warning: PerplexityAI's CEO expressed concerns about the security of its AI browser, Comet, as audits revealed vulnerabilities when handling complex workflows, particularly when users exploit it to complete online courses and exams, raising the risk of misuse.
- Continued Free Access: Despite the shift towards enterprise clients, PerplexityAI will maintain free access with rate limits to retain its user base and attract more potential customers, ensuring a degree of user loyalty in a competitive market.
See More
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- Meta Expands Commitment: Meta Platforms announced a new deal to purchase tens of billions of dollars worth of Nvidia chips and hardware for its AI needs, further solidifying their decade-long partnership and expected to significantly boost Nvidia's sales growth.
- Portfolio Update: Nvidia disclosed new stakes worth $2.3 billion in Snap and $1.1 billion in Nokia, while also revealing a $7.9 billion stake in Intel, showcasing its strategic positioning and confidence in the semiconductor market.
- Positive Market Reaction: Nvidia shares rose 1.4% in early premarket trading on Wednesday, reflecting market optimism regarding the new agreement with Meta, while Intel's stock also gained 1% due to Nvidia's investment, indicating investor confidence in the semiconductor sector.
- Hedge Fund Turns Bearish: Despite the stock rally, New York-based Stanphyl Capital has taken a short position on Nvidia, arguing that some hyperscalers will announce reduced capex, potentially leading to a significant drop in Nvidia's stock price, highlighting market uncertainty ahead.
See More
