Snapchat is a social media platform and instant messaging app that was launched in 2011 by Snap.Inc. The app rose in popularity in 2012 and became one of the most used apps in the world, together with Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. But what differentiates this app from other social media platforms? Well, the main difference between Snapchat and other social media providers is that this is a multimedia messaging app where users send messages with pictures and videos that are automatically deleted after they are viewed. Contrary to other social media platforms, Snapchat focuses on in-the-moment connections.
Philosophy behind Snapchat
Snapchat was created almost in response to other social media platforms where photos and videos were showing perfect lives, quite different from reality. The Snapchat team created this app with the idea of developing a platform where people could express themselves and live in the moment without the pressure to be perfect, pretty, and popular.
One of the main differences with other social media platforms is that users communicate via Snapchat mainly with friends and family. This has to do with the fact that this app was created based on the belief that taking real photos and videos with real friends was more personal and fun than simply chatting. The idea behind Snapchat is the sharing of spontaneous content, that is, in-the-moment photos and videos that are not staged or edited.
Features of Snapchat
The Snapchat app is quite simple and straightforward. These are the key features:
- Snaps: Snaps are disappearing videos and photos, which is the main functionality of the app. The sender can choose for how long the video or image will be available to the receiver (1 to 10 seconds), and once the Snap is viewed, it is lost forever. Snaps can only be seen by the person the Snap was sent to.
- Stories: A story is a collection of Snaps that are played one after the other. These can be viewed by all your followers. Stories last up to 24 hours after you post them and do not disappear after they are seen. This means that a person who has seen your stories can watch them again within the 24-hour limit. You can also comment on other people's stories. This feature has rolled out to other platforms, such as Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram.
- Memories: The idea behind Snapchat is the posting of spontaneous, unedited, in-the-moment content. However, a recent feature of Snapchat allows you to share “Memories” in your stories, that is, photos and videos taken outside of Snapchat.
- Chat: Snapchat includes a Chat feature where you can have conversations with friends and family by simply swiping right on their name. Like Snaps, chat messages disappear once you have finished reading them.
- Lenses and filters: This is one of the functions that made Snapchat rise in popularity so quickly. Snapchat includes infinite lenses and filters that make the whole experience a lot more fun. You can add a filter to your photos or videos, just like on Instagram, for example, or you can play with the different lenses. Take a photo wearing a mustache or dog ears, or even transform your face into Gollum's.
Downloading Snapchat and Snapchat+
The Snapchat app is available for download for iOS and Android devices. Simply go to the App Store or Google Play, find the app, and tap the “Install” button.
Snapchat also has a paid subscription. This paid version of Snapchat provides access to exclusive features, as well as features that are still experimental and have not been launched to the general public. With this paid subscription, you will also be able to customize many areas of the app, like the Snapchat icon on your phone or the background of the different chats.
