Complaints are inevitable when apps and sites are redesigned, but the response to Snapchat’s recent overhaul has been as thunderous as any in recent memory. Everyone seems to hate the updated app, which is why a Change.org petition has managed to garner a stunning 1.2 million signatures since the update began rolling out. It calls for Snap Inc. to reverse the design change while keeping some of the new features that have been added.
You can find a petition for almost anything online, but the groundswell of support for the death of the redesign appears to have been too much for Snap to ignore, as the company issued an official response on Wednesday. While they say that they “understand the new Snapchat has felt uncomfortable for many,” they have no plans to go back.
As off-putting as the redesign may be for those of us who have spent years using Snapchat, the company is doing everything in its power to make the app approachable for a wider audience. Power users may hate it, but Snap thinks that the app stands a better chance in the long run with this new design. That means your friends are going to stay in their own window, and all of the Discover content will have a window to itself as well.
You can read the full response from Snap Inc. to the 1.2 million (and growing) petition signers below:
To Nic and all of the Snapchatters who signed this petition,
We hear you, and appreciate that you took the time to let us know how you feel. We completely understand the new Snapchat has felt uncomfortable for many.
By putting everything from your friends in one place, our goal was to make it easier to connect with the people you care about most. The new Friends page will adapt to you and get smarter over time, reflecting who you’re most likely to be Snapping with at that moment. This same personalization is also true of the new Discover, which will adapt to you the more that you use it.
Beginning soon on iOS, and with Android in the coming weeks, we are introducing tabs in Friends and Discover, which will make it easier to find the Stories that you want, when you want them. Once you receive the update, you’ll be able to sort things like Stories, Group Chats, and Subscriptions, allowing you to further customize your own experience on the app.
This new foundation is just the beginning, and we will always listen closely to find new ways to make the service better for everyone. We are grateful for your enthusiasm and creativity. We are very excited for what’s ahead.
Love,
Team Snapchat
