Snapchat’s ‘Reals’ Joke Mocks Instagram’s Many Ripoffs

Snap Launches ‘Reals’ for April Fools’ Day

On April Fools’ Day 2026, Snapchat unveiled a playful jab at Instagram by rebranding its Spotlight feed as 'Reals.' This tongue-in-cheek name is a clear nod to Instagram Reels and underscores the ongoing rivalry between the two platforms, especially around the borrowing of features.

Evan Spiegel Introduces ‘Reals’

Snap co-founder and CEO Evan Spiegel starred in a video introducing the temporary change. In the clip, he describes 'Reals' as a space where “real people share real moments. Really.” The emphasis on the word 'real' is a direct wink at Instagram's penchant for mimicking new formats, from Stories to short-form video feeds.

A History of Inspired Features

Snapchat was the originator of the Stories format, which was later adopted by Instagram. While Snapchat’s Spotlight came after TikTok and Instagram’s short-form video offerings, the company is now using humor to point out how often Instagram takes cues from competitors.

The Prank in Action

For one day only, users on the Snapchat iOS app saw Spotlight replaced with 'Reals.' Given the numerous puns in Spiegel’s presentation, it’s clear the update was just for fun. The company leaned into the joke to reinforce Snapchat’s message of authenticity and differentiate itself from other social platforms.

For the original article and more details, read on The Verge.