Stand up for the facts!

Our only agenda is to publish the truth so you can be an informed participant in democracy.
We need your help.

More Info

I would like to contribute

Susan Areson
By Susan Areson November 13, 2017
By Emily Tanaka November 13, 2017

Story that Snapchat is shutting down should just disappear -- it's fake news!

Snapchat isn’t closing shop. A viral article saying as much is a fake news story created and published on satirical news sites.

We first saw the claim on breakingnews365.net under the headline "Snapchat is shutting down!" on Nov. 8, 2017. The post was sparse and contained a single grammatically depressing sentence.

"Snapchat will be shutting down tommrow for the U.K. , and will shut down today for the U.s , such a shame"

See?

Although Snap Inc’s owner has announced that the app has seen less daily activity than expected in the third quarter of 2017, the company has made it clear that this rumor is fake news.

Sign up for PolitiFact texts

Snopes had earlier traced the claim to Channel45news.com, another prank news site that proudly sports a "Create A Prank And Trick All Your Friends!" homepage headline and a "You Got Owned" meme-style header icon.

Snapchat has been facing some financial issues due to $40 million worth of unsold Snapchat Spectacles, a device that allows you to record the world around you through a pair of sunglasses.  

Featured Fact-check

Due to the loss of revenue from the unsold units, lowered shares and the dip in daily activity, Snap Inc CEO Evan Spiegel announced his plan to redesign the app in the wake of this fiscal low point.

Although Snapchat has definitely been facing some financial woes, they have no plan of shutting down in 2017 or at any point in the near future.

We rate this statement Pants on Fire!

Our Sources

Breakingnews365.net, "Snapchat is shutting down!", accessed Nov. 8, 2017

Reuters, "Dow edges up to record high, financials dips", Nov. 7, 2017

Snopes, "Is Snapchat Shutting Down by the End of 2017?", Nov. 6, 2017

Snapchat Support Twitter post, Nov. 6, 2017

Channel45news.com, accessed Nov. 9, 2017

The Verge, "Snap lost nearly $40 million on unsold Spectacles", Nov. 7, 2017

Spectacles.com, accessed Nov. 9, 2017

Reuters, "Snapchat launchers redesign as growth disappoints Wall Street", Nov. 7, 2017

Browse the Truth-O-Meter

More by Susan Areson

Story that Snapchat is shutting down should just disappear -- it's fake news!

Support independent fact-checking.
Become a member!

In a world of wild talk and fake news, help us stand up for the facts.

Sign me up