Shots (social network)

Shots App - The Comedy App
Developer(s) Shots Mobile, Inc.
Initial release November 12, 2013 (2013-11-12)
Stable release v5.0
Development status Active
Operating system Android, Apple iOS
Size 39.3 MB
Type Photo & Video
Alexa rank 32,864 (September 2014)[1]
Website shots.com

The Shots app is a comedy app for Android and iPhone devices.[2][3][4][5]

It is the first anti-bullying social networking app. [6] It was co-founded and co-created by John Shahidi and Sam Shahidi. John Shahidi serves as the CEO.[7][8][9]

Features

The Shots app allows users to share comedy and fun links from around the internet and take and post selfies.[10][11][12][13] The Shots app does not have a public comment feature over concerns about cyber-bullying and does not post follower counts.[14] The Shots app does allow users to directly message others.[2][3][7][15][16][17] In February 2015, The Shots app added live filters [18] and in April 2015, added 30-second videos and finding nearby friends with a radar features.

Stanford University's Psychology Department told the Los Angeles Times that "the lack of commenting and visible followers has an effect on Shots users".[19]

History

The Shots app held its first round of seed funding in 2012.[2][10][11][20][21][22] The funding round raised $1.6 million from Shervin Pishevar, Floyd Mayweather, Omar Epps,[23] NALA investments, and Tom McInerney.[2][10][11][20][21][22]

The Shots app went into production in January 2013 and the app was launched in the App Store in November 2013.[2][4][7] Shots launched for Android devices in August 2014.

In April 2014, the Shots app reached 1 million users. 75% of the app's users are females under the age of 24.[24][25] In August 2014, the Shots app reached 2 million users.[26] In October 2014, the Shots app reached 3 million users with 41% of them using it daily.[27]

After Twitter CFO, Anthony Noto accidentally tweeted a message about an acquisition for Twitter, a source close to the company confirmed that Twitter is looking to acquire the Shots app.[28][29] Shots CEO, John Shahidi later stated that the company is not for sale.[30]

In February 2015, the Shots app reached 5 million users with 50% of whom access it daily. [31] Later in the same month, Floyd Mayweather announced his Manny Pacquiao fight on the Shots app by posting their signed contract. [32] [33]

In April 2015, the Shots app raised $8.5 million in new funding, led by Chinese venture-capital firm WI Harper, Launch Fund, Upfront Ventures, 500 Startups, music producer Rodney Jerkins and the venture arm of Major League Baseball." [34] In September 2015, Shots raised another $4 million in funding led by DCM Ventures, adding on to its $8.5 million Series A. The company has raised $15.2 million to date."[35]

On April 20, 2016 it was announced that Shots Mobile, Inc. purchased the Mindie app, a video app that allows teenagers to create their own music videos.[35]

Comedy

The Shots App has quickly become popular amongst comedians including King Bach, Erik Griffin, DeStorm Power, Anwar Jibawi, Brittany Furlan, Rudy Mancuso, Snoop Dogg, Marlon Wayans and Justin Bieber

In October 2015, the Shots app announced the Awkward Puppets, an original show in partnership with comedian and internet star, Rudy Mancuso. [36]

On March 3, 2016, the Shots app began supporting external content inside the app and released a trending section called "Funny" that ranks the comedic content. [37][38]

Comedians using Shots

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Shots.com Site Info". Alexa Internet. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Josh Constine (Nov 12, 2013). "Justin Bieber-Backed "Shots Of Me" Launches Selfie Sharing App". TechCrunch. Retrieved Feb 26, 2014.
  3. 1 2 Rich McCormick (Nov 13, 2013). "Bieber-funded Shots of Me is the most selfie-centered social network". The Verge. Retrieved Feb 26, 2014.
  4. 1 2 Sarah Griffiths (Nov 14, 2013). "App that only lets you take selfies is launched after it receives financial backing from Justin Bieber". Daily Mail. Retrieved Feb 26, 2014.
  5. ↑ Keith Wagstaff (14 March 2014). "Apple devotes entire App Store section to selfies". Today Tech. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  6. ↑ "Justin Bieber Invested In This Anti-Bullying App - Real Biz w/ Rebecca Jarvis - ABC News". July 31, 2015. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  7. 1 2 3 Primack, Dan (4 November 2013). "Exclusive: Justin Bieber invests in new social network". CNN. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  8. ↑ Andrew Amato (Nov 5, 2013). "Serious Question: Would You Let Justin Bieber Supply Your Startup's Seed Funding?". BostInno. Retrieved Feb 26, 2014.
  9. ↑ Bilton, Nick (26 February 2014). "The Messaging App Wars Are Just Getting Started". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  10. 1 2 3 Vincent, James (13 November 2013). "Justin Bieber launches Shots of Me: a mobile app dedicated to selfies". The Independent. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
  11. 1 2 3 Charlotte Alter (Nov 4, 2013). "You Have a Friend Request from Justin Bieber: Singer Invests in Social Network for Teens". Time. Retrieved Feb 26, 2014.
  12. ↑ Rachelle Corpuz (Nov 15, 2013). "Floyd Mayweather's First Selfie on ‘Shots of Me’ App, An Application Funded by None Other Than Justin Bieber". International Business Times. Retrieved Feb 26, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Selfie app Shots of Me gets Justin Bieber's backing". Tech Times. Nov 15, 2013. Retrieved Feb 26, 2014.
  14. ↑ Tweney, Dylan (10 April 2014). "Shots app reaches 1 million selfie-takers". VentureBeat. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  15. ↑ Caroline Moss (Nov 13, 2013). "Justin Bieber Just Launched A New Social Network Dedicated To Selfies". Business Insider. Retrieved Feb 26, 2014.
  16. ↑ Blake, Jonathan (11 December 2013). "Justin Bieber-backed selfie app challenges 'envy'". BBC. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  17. ↑ Jonha Revesencio (16 August 2015). "John Shahidi: The King of Twitter and CEO of Shots". huffingtonpost. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  18. ↑ https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/shots/id577357879?mt=8
  19. ↑ http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-shots-celebrates-one-year-20141114-story.html
  20. 1 2 Van Grove, Jennifer (5 November 2013). "Justin Bieber backs social app Shots of Me". CNET. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  21. 1 2 Jon M. Chang (Nov 5, 2013). "Justin Bieber Invests $1.1 Million in New Social Network Aimed at Teens". ABC News. Retrieved Feb 26, 2014.
  22. 1 2 Vittorio Hernandez (Nov 17, 2013). "RockLive Launches Justin Bieber-Funded Selfie App for iOS". International Business Times. Retrieved Feb 26, 2014.
  23. ↑ Rayhan Mustafa (10 April 2014). "Shots – The Social Network Of Selfies". Ish Magazine. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  24. ↑ Van Grove, Jennifer (10 April 2014). "Selfie app Shots grows to 1M users with help of teenage girls". CNET. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  25. ↑ Tynan, Dan (11 April 2014). "‘Shots’ App Makes Selfies Safer for Teens". Yahoo! Tech. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  26. ↑ http://www.cnbc.com/id/101914485
  27. ↑ http://recode.net/2014/11/06/john-shahidi-is-the-king-of-twitter-and-thats-good-for-business/
  28. ↑ http://www.cnbc.com/id/102218174
  29. ↑ recode.net/2014/11/24/who-is-twitter-cfo-anthony-noto-trying-to-buy/
  30. ↑ http://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/2014/11/25/ceo-shots-not-focused-on-selling/?intcmp=marketfeatures
  31. ↑ Larid, Sam (24 February 2015). "How Floyd Mayweather and Justin Bieber bonded over an app". Mashable. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  32. ↑ Wagner,Kurt (20 February 2015). "Floyd Mayweather Announces Manny Pacquiao Fight Via Selfie App Shots". Re/code. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  33. ↑ Rafael,Dan (21 February 2015). "Mayweather-Pacquiao set for May 2". ESPN. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  34. ↑ Douglas MacMillan (21 April 2015). "Selfie App Shots Moves Beyond Bieber With $8.5 Million in Funding". WSJ. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  35. 1 2 Lucas Matney (8 September 2015). "Shots Raises Another $4M As It Strives To Reclaim The Selfie". TechCrunch. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  36. ↑ http://techcrunch.com/2015/10/29/awkward-puppets/
  37. ↑ http://recode.net/2016/03/03/selfie-app-shots-wants-to-graduate-from-the-selfie/ (nice cameo)
  38. ↑ http://techcrunch.com/2016/03/03/shotscomedyapp/

Further reading

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Thursday, April 21, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.