I’m not sure if everyone understands how to use Snapchat but I most certainly don’t. There’s some weird way of adding friends by making your tips touch. Very personal if you ask me. Also it took me a few weeks before Evan showed me that you have to hold down the video button on the filter for it to take footage. I also just learned yesterday that after you take a picture you can swipe left or right to add location based text or images. With the learning curve behind me for the most part (I think), I’ll give you my thoughts on the usefulness of the app.
This was definitely not sent to me.
I know I’m late to the party and “the kids” have been snapping since 2011 but I get a kick out of utilizing video that isn’t as formal as YouTube. Each video to your story lasts 6 seconds and this gives it an impersonal feel. I posted one video of myself hammered and didn’t have to worry much about the idiot I looked like because it would be erased in 24 hours anyway. I also am aware you can send private messages to friends by video which is a funny way to deliver a message. I’m sure pics like the ones to the right are also popular.
I pretty much have no idea what people post to their stories so for me it’s completely new. Jordan was saying people use it to post a snippet of a cool location they are at. I’m generally using it for any time I’m wasted and feel like wasting 6 seconds of someone’s time. With about 15 friends on my friend list I’m not exactly getting huge exposure but I’m enjoying the short time I’ve had it.
One question I had was I took a with the filter but then is the only way to get it to myself by taking a screen shot?
Snapchat seems like another app in a string of useless technological “advancements”. Btw – your projection of evil applications for “Periscope” came true: someone live streamed the rape of one of their female friends at a party a few months ago.
Usually there are “products” and “services” – both of which work to satisfy some deficiency a customer has. If the product works, or the service is helpful, they are successful and widely used. There is a tangible “thing” associated with the offering.
What we are seeing I believe is the notion of “vehicle” replacing (in some arenas) the the tangible value of “products”/”services”. By “vehicle” I mean a platform for direct advertising and market research.
Snapchat offers no real value that I can see. Between texts, phone calls, FaceTime, etc. what is the point of engaging with it? Who does it serve?
Much like Periscope, I think Snapchat feeds into the notion of an individual celebrity. At its root, the value of celebrity is not public exposure, but a filter of access to exposure. The Kardashians have worked this model out pretty well…
To conclude my rant, I’d like to point out that I think within all of the swarm for immediacy, instant, erased, etc. – that the notion of archiving communication will become more important. On Facebook attempt trying to find a post you didn’t engage with from a site last Tuesday that you want to share today. If you have 3 hours to scroll, maybe it will come up.
Archival access online is the next app.
For what it’s worth, videos can be 1-10 seconds in length, they don’t have to be 6. I’ve found your stories funny.