Photo from slashgear.com
For me, social media started in middle school. MySpace was the highlight of my boring afternoons. As I entered into high school, Facebook began to take over. Its blue and white template was mature. It was a place not just for uploading cute pictures, but a way to actually network and connect with my friends through common interests.
With the birth of smart phones, came a desire for easy, fast and entertaining ways to communicate. This led me to Twitter and Instagram. But recently, Snapchat has been creating a photo fun sensation.
Snapchat is a photo and video-messaging app. It was started in 2011 by two Stanford undergrads as a class project, and it is now a growing success. The app is available for both iOS and Android systems. But what makes Snapchat different from other apps? It’s simple: every message sent by users vanishes within seconds.
The latest Snapchat feature allows users to make stories. These video-picture combinations will disappear 24 hours after they’re posted.
Snapchat’s website describes the app as a place of honesty. One of their goals is to take away the pressure of perfection that other social networks tend to inflict on users. They wanted to embody the feeling of living in the moment, without little hesitation, thought or shame.
Alessia Grunberger, a sophomore journalism and American studies student, experiences the excitement and humor that is possible thanks to Snapchat’s vision.
“In the world of Snapchat, I can take ridiculous photos and send them to my friends. I guess that is why I like Snapchat: It is more socially acceptable to embarrass myself through this medium. I get the most hilarious pictures from my friends, and sometimes they are doing or saying outrageous things. It puts a smile on my face.”
I first downloaded Snapchat about four months ago. I only followed a few of my close friends. Eventually, I deleted the app because it was one more distraction that I could live without. Last week I put the app back on my phone after several people asked why I did not use my account. Convinced that Snapchat was a social media phenomenon I did not want to miss out on, I started adding more people.
Ricky Bailey, a sophomore marketing major, appreciates the creativity of Snapchat.
“I love the anticipation of getting a new Snapchat and the suspense as you wonder what it could be. Most of them end up being selfies or party pictures, which I enjoy seeing too,” he said. “But every once in a while you’ll get one that somebody has put some time and imagination into making. Those are the ones that really make it fun for me.”
Many social media apps tend to show up as a sort of passing fad. But with Snapchat’s innovative self-destruction feature, it has caught the attention of many. Perhaps its embrace of embarrassingly hilarious moments will keep it alive for years to come.
