SnapChat - 1 Snap too many

SnapChat is a photo sharing application that allows users to send photos to other users. However, SnapChat differentiates itself from other photo sharing applications by allowing the user to choose how long that recipient can view the photo for. Choosing a 1 second to 10 second expiration periods for that photo does this. This ultimately allows users to send photos that may be inappropriate, silly, or embarrassing without the fear of that photo being saved and sent around. Approximately 150 million photos are shared on SnapChat daily.

 Developers, Evan Spiegel and Bobby Murphy, originally created the application as they felt that emoticons like J and L, were not enough to express an emotion, however in my opinion it has allowed users to send inappropriate photos to each other and encouraged the act of “sexting”. SnapChat CEO, Evan Spiegel, is of the opinion that SnapChat is not typically used to send inappropriate selfies as usage of his application falls by 11pm. While the photo that has been send disappears from the phone after the expiration time, it does not prevent the recipient from taking a screenshot, however the sender is then alerted that a screenshot has been taken.

Just because most users may be using the application to send inappropriate photos, it doesn’t mean that SnapChat cannot be used for fun. Majority of users use SnapChat to share what they are doing, what they are eating and most times just a funny facial expression.   

R.Z