Snapchat is Intrinsically Worthless • Hacker News Board

Re: Snapchat is Intrinsically Worthless

#11

Post by gaius » Mon, Nov 04, 2013, 9:59 PM UTC

I don't know if you know much about Victorian farming techniques, but it was around then that bat guano was discovered to be an excellent fertilizer. This started what amounted to a gold rush, as people set off to make their fortunes from harvesting it. That is the origin of the modern term "batshit crazy".

I just mention this apropos of nothing.

Re: Snapchat is Intrinsically Worthless

#12

Post by Segmentation » Mon, Nov 04, 2013, 10:01 PM UTC

With WebRTC, can someone make a ephemeral peer-to-peer, one-to-one or one-to-many messenger?

I think that would be more private. Sever the 3rd party.

Re: Snapchat is Intrinsically Worthless

#13

Post by gcatalfamo » Mon, Nov 04, 2013, 10:02 PM UTC

skrebbel wrote: post #9

tlrobinson wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You think Snapchat is in any way anonymous or private?

Yes, in every way that matters to most people.

"in every way that matters to most people"

It makes you think, doesn't it?

Re: Snapchat is Intrinsically Worthless

#14

Post by tlrobinson » Mon, Nov 04, 2013, 10:02 PM UTC

skrebbel wrote: post #9

tlrobinson wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You think Snapchat is in any way anonymous or private?

Yes, in every way that matters to most people.

Except for the ways in which people are outraged over being spied upon.

Re: Snapchat is Intrinsically Worthless

#15

Post by special » Mon, Nov 04, 2013, 10:03 PM UTC

polemic wrote: post #7

Perhaps their endgame is to use a vast collection of compromising images collected under the pretence of privacy to extort protection fees from their users.

I thought this when I first heard of snapchat. How could you not archive away the pictures somewhere?

Re: Snapchat is Intrinsically Worthless

#16

Post by gcatalfamo » Mon, Nov 04, 2013, 10:04 PM UTC

If somebody would be looking for "bubbles", Snapchat at 4B is a clear sign of one.

Re: Snapchat is Intrinsically Worthless

#17

Post by Apocryphon » Mon, Nov 04, 2013, 10:04 PM UTC

Competition could be a good way, once you figure out how to gameify self-destructing photos. Some sort of scavenger hunt model, perhaps? Giving out clues? Maybe adding a Snapchat Games section for companies to host these treasure hunt promotions? Or some sort of art contest?

Re: Snapchat is Intrinsically Worthless

#18

Post by richardv » Mon, Nov 04, 2013, 10:04 PM UTC

Am I missing something but I always assumed that valuations at this stage of a company is to do with huge/vast sums of money being removed from the table by the founders and they've done this by selling a good stake of their equity/voting rights in their company.

The founders are now rich.. but the company isn't.. and if they raise a next round, their true valuation will shine through...

Re: Snapchat is Intrinsically Worthless

#19

Post by johnrob » Mon, Nov 04, 2013, 10:05 PM UTC

I'll suggest a simpler framework for valuing Snapchat: probability of becoming another Facebook. If you think it has a 5% chance, then it should be valued at around 5 billion (relative to Facebook's 100 billion).

Re: Snapchat is Intrinsically Worthless

#20

Post by Apocryphon » Mon, Nov 04, 2013, 10:05 PM UTC

tlrobinson wrote: post #3

sp332 wrote: post #2

People are outraged over being spied on, but can't see the value in an private chat tool? Edit I meant private, not anonymous.

You think Snapchat is in any way anonymous or private?

Maybe the NSA is funneling investment to get their hooks into Snapchat, preventing it from being used as a means for enemy spies and agents to send each other temporary messages.