Snapchat, which once faced a boycott in India, has more than doubled its users there in the last year as it has benefited from “changes in the competitive landscape” and a stream of deals with local celebrities, media companies and mobile carriers, said a senior executive.
The messaging app’s users rose 150% in the country versus a year ago in the third quarter, said Snap Chief Strategy Officer Jared Grusd, who leads the company’s international growth efforts. The statistic offers a glimpse into Snap’s expansion in countries outside North America and Europe, where its number of users could soon eclipse its user base in those core markets. Snap’s growth turnaround in India also offers a window into the gains TikTok’s rivals have achieved since India banned the short-video app this summer.