Snapchat's Daily Video Views Triple to 6 Billion: Report

The number of videos viewed each day on Snapchat has tripled since May to 6 billion as the messaging app closes the gap with social media giant Facebook, according to a report in the Financial Times that cites people close to the company.

The Financial Times said that Snapchat confirmed the 6 billion figure but had declined to comment further.

Facebook said last week that it had doubled daily video views to 8 billion from 4 billion in April, according to the report, which notes that social networking groups are vying for eyeballs in the fast-growing video segment.

Facebook's daily video viewing number is made up of both desktop and mobile views while Snapchat's is entirely made up of smartphone users, the report notes.

Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel said in May that the company plans to have an initial public offering but did not specify when that would happen. In 2013, Snapchat turned down a $3 billion (roughly Rs. 19,896 crores) offer from Facebook to acquire the company.

Snapchat in late October rolled out updates for both its Android and iOS apps, bringing new video filters called Speed Modifiers - Slo-Mo, Fast Forward, and Rewind. It has also updated its app with 3D Touch functionality for the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus.

To use Speed Modifiers, users would have to simply swipe over to apply them, after shooting a video on Android or iOS device.

Written with inputs from Reuters