Snap Focuses on AI as Advertising Revenue Slows

Core Insights - Snap's advertising demand is being hindered by changing consumer behavior and tariff-related pressures [1] - The company reported revenues of $1.34 billion, a 9% increase year over year, but advertising growth slowed to just 4% [2] - CEO Evan Spiegel acknowledged multiple headwinds, including global economic factors, affecting performance [2] Financial Performance - Snap's core ad business, which constitutes the majority of its revenue, faced reduced demand from cost-sensitive advertisers [3] - Auction prices were negatively impacted by a recent change to the ad platform, which has since been rolled back [3] - Ad revenue growth has returned to 3% to 4% as advertisers adjust their strategies [3] Competitive Landscape - Snap is facing stiff competition from platforms like TikTok and Meta's Facebook and Instagram, with advertisers shifting their spending [4] - Meta and Reddit reported more positive earnings, contrasting Snap's performance [4] - The digital ad environment has become more challenging for Snap, with less tolerance for mistakes [5] Strategic Initiatives - In response to advertising pressures, Snap is investing in automation and artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance ad performance and reduce acquisition costs [5] - The company highlighted its AI-driven Smart Campaign tools aimed at optimizing bids and targeting [5] - Small and midsize businesses were the largest contributors to ad revenue growth in the quarter [6] User Engagement Trends - Time spent on Snap's Spotlight short-form video feature increased by 23% year over year, now accounting for nearly half of all content viewed on the platform [6] - Users are shifting from direct posting to content-based interactions, sharing Spotlight content to initiate conversations [7] - There has been a 30% increase in time spent on video chatting among users [7]