Snapchat was founded in 2011 by Evan Spiegel, Reggie Brown and Bobby Murphy as a photo messaging app for sharing images and videos that disappear after a set time period. It allows users to take photos, record videos, add text and drawings, and send them to connections on their contact list. The content is only viewable for a short time before it is deleted from the recipient's device and Snapchat's servers. The app gained popularity among teenagers and young adults for its ephemeral messaging features.