Snapchat Might Start Selling Ads Based On What's In Your Photos

<p>Snapchat may start scanning users&#39; snaps for real-world objects to sell ads.</p><p>A filing with the&nbsp;<a href="http://pdfaiw.uspto.gov/.aiw?PageNum=0&docid=20160203586&IDKey=317A753AF881&HomeUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fappft.uspto.gov%2Fnetacgi%2Fnph-Parser%3FSect1%3DPTO1%2526Sect2%3DHITOFF%2526d%3DPG01%2526p%3D1%2526u%3D%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.html%2526r%3D1%2526f%3DG%2526l%3D50%2526s1%3D20160203586.PGNR.%2526OS%3D%2526RS%3D" target="_blank">U.S. Patent and Trademark Office</a>&nbsp;details the system. The image-recognition software would scan a photo for an object and then offer a sponsored filter to go with it.</p><p>An example from the patent says if the software detects the Empire State Building in an image, then it could suggest a King Kong filter to go along with it.</p><p>The filing says third parties would be able to pay to have their filter included in a specific set sent to a user.</p><p>Scanning users&#39; photos to determine their location could be considered a bit of a privacy overstep.</p><p>And that seems to be a common problem for social media companies. Facebook has run into similar issues when trying to monetize.&nbsp;</p><p>Snapchat hasn&#39;t announced any plans for the system, and the patent filing doesn&#39;t necessarily mean the feature is coming anytime soon.</p><p>But it could help the company reach its sales goals. After earning $59 million last year, the company is&nbsp;<a href="https://techcrunch.com/2016/05/26/snapchat-series-f/" target="_blank">projecting revenue</a>&nbsp;between $500 million and $1 billion for 2017.&nbsp;</p><p><i>This video includes clips from&nbsp;</i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nm1RfWn0tQ8" target="_blank"><i>Snapchat</i></a><i>&nbsp;and&nbsp;</i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3W6OZTs9_k" target="_blank"><i>Facebook</i></a><i>&nbsp;and images from&nbsp;</i><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/67683836@N02/16910572286/" target="_blank"><i>AdamPrzezdziek / CC BY SA 2.0</i></a><i>&nbsp;and Getty Images. Music provided courtesy of APM Music.&nbsp;</i></p><hr><b>Trending stories at <a href="http://www.newsy.com">Newsy.com</a></b><ul class="inline-related-links"><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/videos/pok-mon-go-has-doubled-nintendo-s-stock-valuation/">&#039;Pokmon Go&#039; Has Doubled Nintendo&#039;s Stock Valuation</a></li><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/videos/looking-for-pok-stops-check-yelp/">Looking For PokStops? Check Yelp</a></li><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/videos/gigabit-internet-is-still-almost-uselessly-fast-for-now/">Gigabit Internet Is Still Almost Uselessly Fast For Now</a></li></ul>