Snapchat launches Discover space to teach users about coronavirus

Snapchat has been doing its part to help users access quality information about the coronavirus in a few ways, including Bitmoji stickers with common-sense health tips, and a new mental health portal. 

Wednesday, it took that effort a step further by launching a dedicated space in Discover called “Coronavirus: The Latest.” The aim is to put the highest quality news coverage and information about coronavirus at the very top of Discover.

To do so, it will aggregate coronavirus information from the World Health Organization and the U.K.’s National Health Service channels, as well as news reports from media Discover channels like The Washington Post and CNN. It will also feature messages from the White House coronavirus task force and its spokespeople, like Dr. Anthony Fauci, that are specifically targeted at young people. 

The space launches for both iOS and Android at noon PT in the U.S. and U.K., and Snap says it will be rolling out in more markets soon. 

Included in the new Discover space, Snapchat is also producing its own channel with Covid-19 information called “Coronavirus: Stop the Spread.” This is where much of that government coronavirus video content will live, like custom clips for Snapchatters from the U.S. Surgeon General, Vice Admiral Jerome Adams. It will also feature community aggregated Stories about how people are dealing with working and learning from home.

The WHO has its own Snapchat account and the U.K.’s National Health Service launched its channel Wednesday. Snap has already worked with the WHO to facilitate a Q&A between users and experts on the WHO account.

Other social media companies have launched coronavirus information portals and content channels that depict how people are faring during social distancing. But Snapchat could play an important role in both disseminating quality information and facilitating social connection for young people, specifically. Snap says that it reaches 90 percent of all 13-24 year-olds in the U.S., which it claims is more than Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger combined.