Dispo or Disposable as the app was originally called, a photo app that was launched in 2020 on Product Hunt by David Dobrik, a well-known Youtuber. David has an Instagram account where he takes pictures with a disposable camera and where he has over 3 million followers. The app was created as a new alternative to the well-established app – Instagram. In the app you can create and share images without filters, which can be associated with a disposable camera. The purpose of the app is that there should be a delay before you get an image, similar to the nostalgic development of images. Today, Dispo is available to download in the Apple store for iOS.
How to use the app
You take a picture in the app, and you choose to share with other users and then it develops into a digital disposable picture at 9am in the morning the next day. You will receive a notification when the image is ready to be displayed to resemble a disposable camera. In a new function called “Shared Rolls” you can collect photos in a joint album with other users where they are “developed” until the next day at 9am in the morning.
Does Dispo match the future of social media?
In an innovation society, that is constantly being digitized, we want to see apps develop and a constant movement. What’s trending in social media today, might not trend tomorrow. This is where Dispo may end up, it’s hard to see that the app would be new Instagram, because we want things to go fast and we want to be able to publish content quickly.
Developing photos is definitely a fun idea, and an app to vary with Instagram if you are interested in photography. We don’t think that the app will be able to compete with Instagram, but maybe become an app that you use in addition to Instagram’s fast going environment.
It can break through and become a trend in the increased digitization and especially now when you can collect and share images with other users. But we’ll see, Dispo has mainly taken root in the United States and new opportunities recently opened up, the app can now be downloaded and used by the public. Before an invitation was required or be on the waiting list – similar to the buzz around Clubhouse, which you can read more about in this blogpost.
Dispo loses investor support
Earlier this week, TechCrunch reported that a recent investigation by Business Insider exposed that a member of YouTuber David Dobrik’s “Vlog Squad” sexually assaulted a women back in 2018 and that dispo’s early investors Spark Capital have been distancing themselves from the app.
Hours after the investigation was published, Dobrik stepped down from the board of Dispo, as first reported by The Information.
Early investors Unshackled Ventures and Seven Seven Six have stepped away from the company as well, promising to donate any profits from their respective investments to organizations focused on survivors of sexual assault.
Dispo, in a statement to TechCrunch, said the following:
“David has chosen to step down from the board and leave the company to not distract from the company’s growth. Dispo’s team, product, and most importantly – our community – stand for building a diverse, inclusive and empowering world.”
Despite this, Dispo had been valued at $200 million after its $20 million Series A, led by Spark Capital only weeks ago. The company released a statement saying it would continue to work on the platform.
It will for sure be interesting to follow how Dispo recovers from this stormy weather – and if the app, after all, remains as buzz or actually manages to compete with Instagram in the long term.
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