Snap said in a blog post that it launched lenses — which are images<br />that people can superimpose on their selfies — a year and a half ago to give users more ways to express themselves.<br />Unlimited article access, anytime, anywhere<br />NYTimes Crossword Access, Enjoy 20 years of NYTimes crosswords archives, sync your progress across any device<br />1 complimentary digital subscription to give anyone you’d like<br />“The copycatting impacts sentiment among investors because to some degree the advertising spending<br />that goes to Instagram and Snapchat comes from the same pool,” said Brian Wieser, an analyst at Pivotal Research.<br />These features added whimsy and color to Snapchat’s messaging service, which has drawn an avid base of users<br />and has helped propel new forms of digital advertising.<br />Investors are looking for evidence that Snap can be more innovative than its competitors, and<br />that its new products can attract and retain Snapchat’s young users, who advertisers want to court.
