Shots (social network)

Shots (social network)
Developer(s) Shots Mobile, Inc.
Initial release November 12, 2013
Stable release v3.0.3
Development status Active
Operating system Android, Apple iOS
Size 16.0 MB
Type Photo & Video
Alexa rank 32,864 (September 2014)[1]
Website shots.com

Shots is a selfie photo sharing application and social network for Android and iOS.[2][3][4][5] It was co-founded and co-created by John Shahidi and Sam Shahidi. John serves as the CEO of Shots [6][7][8]

Features

Shots is an iOS and Android based social platform that allows users to take and post selfies.[9][10][11][12]

The app only allows the use of front-view cameras and users can only take pictures through the app.[2][3][4] Shots does not allow users to upload previously taken pictures.[2] The iPhone app also does not have a public comment feature over concerns about cyber-bullying and does not post follower counts.[13]

Shots does allow users to directly message others.[2][3][6][14][15]

In 2014, Shots added language localization in Portuguese, Portuguese (Brazil), and Spanish (Mexico).[16] The app also added the "Reply Shot", which lets users respond to followers through selfies instead of comments.[17][18][19]

Stanford University's Psychology Department told the Los Angeles Times that "the lack of commenting and visible followers has an effect on Shots users".[20]

In February 2015, Shots added Double Shot and 10 live filers features. It also allows users to edit a caption. [21]

In April 2015, Shots added the three-second videos and finding nearby friends with a radar features. Shots also plans to release a selfie-taking app for the Apple Watch.[22]

History

Shots Mobile held its first round of seed funding for Shots in 2012.[2][9][10][23][24][25] The funding round raised $1.6 million from Shervin Pishevar, Floyd Mayweather, Omar Epps,[26] NALA investments, and Tom McInerney.[2][9][10][23][24][25]

The company held a second round of funding for $1.1 million, which was led by Justin Bieber.[2][6][23][27] Bieber had previously provided feedback for games developed by Shots Mobile, Inc.[3][6] He also promoted the games through Twitter.[3][6]

Shots went into production in January 2013 and the app was launched in the App Store in November 2013.[2][4][6] Shots launched for Android devices in August 2014.

In April 2014, Shots reached 1 million users. 75% of the app's users are females under the age of 24.[17][28]

In August 2014, Shots reached 2 million users.[29]

In October 2014, Shots reached 3 million users with 41% of them using it daily.[30]

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 Shots.[31][32] Shots CEO, John Shahidi later stated that the company is not for sale.[33]

On February 20, 2015, Floyd Mayweather announced Manny Pacquiao fight on Shots by posting their signed contract. [34] [35]

In February 2015, Shots reached 5 million users with 50% of whom access it daily. [36]

In 2015, "Shots has raised $8.5 million in new funding, led by Chinese venture-capital firm WI Harper. The round – which also includes Launch Fund, Upfront Ventures, 500 Startups, music producer Rodney Jerkins and the venture arm of Major League Baseball – closed in April and hasn’t previously been disclosed." [37]

Influencers

Official list of influencers of shots from shots.com

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Shots.com Site Info". Alexa Internet. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Josh Constine (Nov 12, 2013). "Justin Bieber-Backed "Shots Of Me" Launches Selfie Sharing App". TechCrunch. Retrieved Feb 26, 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Rich McCormick (Nov 13, 2013). "Bieber-funded Shots of Me is the most selfie-centered social network". The Verge. Retrieved Feb 26, 2014.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 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. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Primack, Dan (4 November 2013). "Exclusive: Justin Bieber invests in new social network". CNN. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  7. ↑ Andrew Amato (Nov 5, 2013). "Serious Question: Would You Let Justin Bieber Supply Your Startup's Seed Funding?". BostInno. Retrieved Feb 26, 2014.
  8. ↑ Bilton, Nick (26 February 2014). "The Messaging App Wars Are Just Getting Started". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Vincent, James (13 November 2013). "Justin Bieber launches Shots of Me: a mobile app dedicated to selfies". The Independent. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 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.
  11. ↑ 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.
  12. ↑ "Selfie app Shots of Me gets Justin Bieber's backing". Tech Times. Nov 15, 2013. Retrieved Feb 26, 2014.
  13. ↑ Tweney, Dylan (10 April 2014). "Shots app reaches 1 million selfie-takers". VentureBeat. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  14. ↑ Caroline Moss (Nov 13, 2013). "Justin Bieber Just Launched A New Social Network Dedicated To Selfies". Business Insider. Retrieved Feb 26, 2014.
  15. ↑ Blake, Jonathan (11 December 2013). "Justin Bieber-backed selfie app challenges 'envy'". BBC. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  16. ↑ Dove, Jackie (10 April 2014). "Shots puts a selfie inside a selfie for twice the fun". The Next Web. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Van Grove, Jennifer (10 April 2014). "Selfie app Shots grows to 1M users with help of teenage girls". CNET. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  18. ↑ R, Peter (10 April 2014). "Selfie App, Shots, Has 1 Million Users and 75 Percent of Them are Teenage Girls". Franchise Herald. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  19. ↑ Knibbs, Katie (11 April 2014). "Justin Bieber has created selfieception". The Daily Dot. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  20. ↑ http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-shots-celebrates-one-year-20141114-story.html
  21. ↑ https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/shots/id577357879?mt=8
  22. ↑ "Selfie App Shots Moves Beyond Bieber With $8.5 Million in Funding". WSJ. April 21, 2015. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 Van Grove, Jennifer (5 November 2013). "Justin Bieber backs social app Shots of Me". CNET. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 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.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Vittorio Hernandez (Nov 17, 2013). "RockLive Launches Justin Bieber-Funded Selfie App for iOS". International Business Times. Retrieved Feb 26, 2014.
  26. ↑ Rayhan Mustafa (10 April 2014). "Shots – The Social Network Of Selfies". Ish Magazine. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  27. ↑ Michael Berkens (Nov 4, 2013). "RockLive.com Purchase For $40K: New Social Network Shots Of Me Backed By Beiber To Launch Without Matching Domains". The Domains. Retrieved Feb 26, 2014.
  28. ↑ Tynan, Dan (11 April 2014). "‘Shots’ App Makes Selfies Safer for Teens". Yahoo! Tech. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  29. ↑ http://www.cnbc.com/id/101914485
  30. ↑ http://recode.net/2014/11/06/john-shahidi-is-the-king-of-twitter-and-thats-good-for-business/
  31. ↑ http://www.cnbc.com/id/102218174
  32. ↑ recode.net/2014/11/24/who-is-twitter-cfo-anthony-noto-trying-to-buy/
  33. ↑ http://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/2014/11/25/ceo-shots-not-focused-on-selling/?intcmp=marketfeatures
  34. ↑ Wagner,Kurt (20 February 2015). "Floyd Mayweather Announces Manny Pacquiao Fight Via Selfie App Shots". Re/code. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  35. ↑ Rafael,Dan (21 February 2015). "Mayweather-Pacquiao set for May 2". ESPN. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  36. ↑ Larid, Sam (24 February 2015). "How Floyd Mayweather and Justin Bieber bonded over an app". Mashable. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  37. ↑ Douglas MacMillan (21 April 2015). "Selfie App Shots Moves Beyond Bieber With $8.5 Million in Funding". WSJ. Retrieved 21 April 2015.

Further reading

External links