Snapchat: How Long Will the Hype Last?

Snapchat: How Long Will the Hype Last?

By Lyndsey Lombard

      

            Snapchat is the newest and coolest form of messaging available on iPhones, iPads, and Androids.  Users can capture pictures and videos that self-destruct after only a few seconds.  The user is able to add text and drawings to the pictures and decide how long their friends can view the message. This is the only place where embarrassing, funny, and silly moments can be captured and erased! The majority of Snapchat’s audience is between 13 and 23 years old.  However, the older demographic audience is growing so this app appeals to a lot of people.  Snapchat definitely has an advantage since it is one of a kind.

Features

After downloading the app, Snapchat requires you to create your own account with a username and a password. After login, the user is able to add contacts from their address book or invite friends that are not already using the app.

Contacts can also be found by searching usernames.  Because of this, Snapchat allows you to share and receive messages to and from people who are not friends or apart of your contacts. This privacy setting can be adjusted.

Snapchat’s interface and functionality is simple and understandable.  It only features three main screens, the Snapchat camera, Snapchat contacts list, and your activity feed.  The activity feed can also direct you to settings.  The camera screen displays buttons that direct you to the other two screens, an on and off flash switch, front to rear camera switch, and a shutter that can be clicked to take a picture or held down to record a video.

After taking a picture or video, the user has a few options.  The first is to delete what was captured and start over.  However, the most important are to draw on it in different colors or add text, choose the length of the Snapchat between 1 and 10 seconds, save it into your own gallery, and the newest feature which is to add it to your “story.”

Snapchat Stories, a feature added in October 2013, allows users to add snaps together throughout the day to create a story.  Instead of just sending a snap to a select few people, your friends can view your Snapchat Stories as many times as they would like until they disappear in 24 hours.  Pictures and videos are added to the story and played in order creating a real life narrative.  Each snap in the story also displays a list of people who watched it.

Positives

•         “Interface is simple and intuitive. The timer feature makes for a unique and fun way to share photos and videos.” (CNET)
•           “By taking away the part about a photo lasting forever, it actually encourages users to share more.” (TechCrunch)
•       Appeals to a wide range of ages and even has a younger demographic version called “Snapkidz.”

Negatives

•     “Snapchat needs more photo and video editing tools. You can't import items from outside the app. Video quality is low.” (CNET)
•      A major concern has been the use of Snapchat for “sexting.” The screen capture function can make these moments less private and even be circulated on the Internet. (Forbes)

Origins

Stanford University students, Evan Spiegel and Bobby Murphy, came up with the concept of Snapchat in 2011.  The two, who met in the Kappa Sigma fraternity house, ended up making a great team with Evan studying product design and Bobby studying mathematical and computational science.  Although the concept they had come up with didn’t receive a great response in Spiegel’s “Design and Business Factors” class, they pursued it anyway.  They felt that people needed a more human and natural form of communication.  After receiving their first investment of $485,000 from venture capital firm, Lightspeed Venture, they wasted no time building the app to what it is today.

Overall

Because of Snapchat’s beginning association with “sexting,” I was a little late to the bandwagon.  The idea completely turned me off of the app and I refused to download it.  However, once people started discussing its actual purpose, I started to feel like I was missing out on a really cool form of messaging.  Since there are now more photos shared on Snapchat than Facebook, apparently I was missing out (Slate).

Snapchat has a ton of potential and that is seen with the recent price tag Facebook put on it.  Will the hype last though?

An article in Slate discussed how Snapchat co-founders, Evan and Bobby, plan to make money in the future.  They discussed two main revenue streams, advertisements and virtual goods.  One advertisement every 20 or 30 snaps will not affect the users experience.  I even watch snaps sent personally from Snapchat so I don’t see why I wouldn’t watch one from a brand that interests me.  Virtual goods would be virtual gifts that people buy and send to friends through the app.  I personally wouldn’t buy them but there is definitely a lot of revenue made off of in-app purchases.

There are many things up in the air but Snapchat has made some good decisions so far.  I love the layout and there aren’t any changes I would suggest they make.  Snapchat provides a level of excitement to photo sharing because you never know what will pop up.  My friends have basically turned the attempt to screenshot embarrassing snaps into a game.  The fact that your friends can see when you catch them is just a plus.  I hope they can figure out how to make more money and extend the life of it because the hype is here to stay for now.  It is definitely one of the best apps to come out within the last year!