Snapchat brings creator-made lenses front and center in app

Snapchat is giving artists more love. 

Starting in late March, Snapchat will feature creator-made lenses in the app's carousel. The update will display artists' work in the app's main screen, only a couple of swipes away from the puppy filter and the dancing hot dog. That means potential exposure to Snapchat's 187 million daily active users and even more if people choose to share it off the app.  

This decision comes a long way from Snapchat's previous neglect of its most passionate users. For years, Snapchat kept influencers and artists at bay — not engaging them in conversations and not adding tools that would help them better use the app — despite the popularity of doodlers like Shaun McBride "Shonduras." Snapchat even got in trouble for stealing artwork.  Read more...