The global company "Snap Inc." announced the launch of its new entertainment platform "Spotlight" in markets across the Middle East and North Africa, allowing approximately 75 million users in the region to view stories captured by user lenses more extensively. The global company noted that the average number of photos and stories created by users daily exceeds 5 billion, with the "Spotlight" platform enabling users to express themselves and reach a broader audience in a completely new way.
"Snapchat" indicated that the "Spotlight" platform showcases the most prominent clips and stories published on its app in one place, which will gradually curate stories and clips tailored to each user's preferences. The company clarified that within just two months of its launch in January 2021, the platform attracted over 100 million Snapchat users.
According to released information, the "Spotlight" platform is designed to enhance the concepts of entertainment for Snapchat users and to uphold the app's values, which prioritize user satisfaction and happiness. While all users can share their best stories and clips, "Spotlight" content is subject to oversight and does not allow public comments. Submitted clips must comply with all content guidelines to be approved for publication.
The global company also stated that the "Snap" rewards program will be available in the Middle East and North Africa, aimed at celebrating user contributions and rewarding them by giving creators the chance to win cash prizes worth millions of dollars monthly. It added, "All users can profit from their stories and clips, regardless of whether they are celebrities, influencers, or public figures," indicating that the "Spotlight" platform offers fair, enjoyable, and rewarding opportunities for everyone. Users must be at least one year old to earn rewards and obtain parental consent when necessary.
Hussein Freij, General Manager of Snap Inc. in the Middle East, said, "In the Middle East and North Africa, users of the app have consistently recognized the comprehensive value the platform provides—whether through chat windows, map features, stories, or content—but they have been looking for other ways to share content more widely. Therefore, the 'Spotlight' platform is the product of insights and deep thinking into the aspirations, preferences, and values of Snapchat users, and it is designed according to our philosophy of integrating privacy protection into its design, with user safety and protection as our top priority."
Freij added, "We hope the 'Spotlight' platform will continue to contribute to reducing barriers associated with content creation, encouraging Snapchat users to express themselves and their creativity by providing everyone with the opportunity to publish content widely and win cash prizes."
Usage rates of "Snapchat" in the Middle East and North Africa exceed the global average, with over 85 percent of daily users in the region interacting through the app's lenses daily. According to a recent study by Snap Inc., the "Snapchat Generation" in the Middle East places significant importance on its relationships with family and friends, with communication and camera applications helping to strengthen those relationships. The study suggests that the "Snapchat Generation" in the region is more likely to feel significant in the lives of others by a factor of 1.2 compared to non-users, thanks to the features of story sharing, communication, and camera.
The "Spotlight" platform is currently available across the Middle East and North Africa, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, the Palestinian territories, Libya, and Iraq.
