Snapchat, is it just a fad?

Posted on April 16, 2014

What is Snapchat? It’s the social app, where users can take photos, record videos, add text and drawings, and send them to a controlled list of recipients. It’s currently seeing more than 400 million photos shared every day! Seen as one of the hottest mobile apps in the world, but also one of the most controversial. But is it all just a fad or will it be long lasting. Some people could give opinions on either. I mean smartphones are slowly taking over the world aren’t they?

In the beginning it was just a social thing between friends, but now it seems even businesses have hopped on the band wagon. Night clubs/Pubs in Cork City for example, the Bowery, Savoy, The Holy Cow, all provide their customers with a link to their Snapchat where they can keep in contact with them. They use this in order to keep up to date with their target market and entice them to get involved. For example, the Bowery, have been known to send snaps of the dancefloor saying, “can’t wait for you to get here”, this helps build a relationship with the customer in a way they can relate to. It’s also reminder advertising for them.
Alternatively, places like The Holy Cow, have created competitions through Snapchat, where the best snap can win prizes, such as free entry or even a free drink.

 

Now, I actually asked a few of my friends about this topic, and got mixed answers. Some said it would fizzle out and people will get bored of it, others said that they love it too much to get rid of it (the typical snap addict), and more said that they can see it being turned into something similar to Instagram, where people can have the option just to view all your photos. At the moment, Snapchat already has introduced peoples “stories” option where you put up photos or videos, for all your friends to see, for 24hours only. So maybe that is the way it’s going? All I know is, hardly anyone sends a text anymore, it’s usually always a snap.

On the other hand Snapchat has gotten some bad feedback too in relation to the security of it all. Parents seem to have issues, in relation to “sexting” in the form of pictures. Although you can set a time limit on photos sent to people they can always screenshot it, even though when this happens the sender gets a warning. Snapchat have tried to put parents at ease in creating a Snapchat Guide for Parents, which goes into the detail of Snapchat works. If only they could provide better security, they probably wouldn’t have any issues.

All-in-all, Snapchat seems to have fit in well amongst all of the social media so far so I think it may last for another while, as for the rest of our lives, I’m not sure. Social media is always becoming bigger and better so something is bound to gain our interest and replace it, right?

Want to meet the Snapchat team? Watch below!

 

Once again thanks for having a read of my blog! Maybe someday we can be Snapchat friends 😀