The Technical Walkthrough of Snapchat

           Snapchat is a social media platform that enables interactivity and sharing with the notion of empowering its users by affording them the capacity of communication with others across time and space (Baym, 2016). To join the snapchat community, one must download the application on their phone and register by entering their email, name and birthday. Once completed, the user is given access to the everyday capabilities of the application; the main aspect is interacting with other users by sharing pictures and sending messages.

            Snapchat can be mapped out through its five main screens: the camera, stories, settings, chats and memories pages. To access each screen, you simply swipe in the desired direction (as shown in diagram below). On the camera screen, there are different buttons displayed. For example, the big circle is to capture a photo and if you hold it down you can record a video. On this page, we can also access a variety of filters by pressing down on the screen. These filters are one of Snapchat’s main features because users enjoy using them and sharing the experience with others.

            The application permits social actions by allowing us to chat, capture moments and send them via pictures. We are able to save our memories on Snapchat which relates to the concept of storage and replicability (Baym, 2016); we have the capability of storing photos on the app as long as there is enough storage space available. Moreover, the settings page allows for the idea of privacy by giving users access to block others and manage who can view stories, as well as the action of adding and deleting friends.

            Snapchat, despite being a public platform, allows for user control. For instance, one can select “ghost mode” in order to avoid being seen on the snapchat map. Although, the central concept behind the app is sharing hence why features like geofilters exist. This relates to the temporal structure concept because Snapchat allows for synchronous communication (Baym, 2016). With these filters, you can share with others where your current location is in real time; the app is spatiotemporal in this context.

            Apart from the location feature, the chat screen shows who you have interacted with either by sending or receiving snapchats or by becoming friends with someone new. This is one of the most prominent functions of the app: it is easy to add people. One simply scans another users code – which prompts immediate interactivity between two individuals. Along with that, the stories feature enables users to share what they are doing or where they are in the world.

            Furthermore, another mediating characteristic of the app is the user interface arrangement. The app guides the user through interaction via the placement of buttons and menus. The first page that loads is the camera with the big circular button; this encourages users to take a photo. Once a photo has been taken, instantly a blue triangular button will appear on the bottom right side (as shown below), to prompt the user to either post the photo to their story, send it to another user, or choose to do both!

            An interesting and rather clever aspect of Snapchat is their deactivation policy. As mentioned, the app allows you to make yourself a ghost – hiding your presence on the map. Also, you can easily log out through the settings page but to deactivate is difficult and inconvenient. In order for a user to completely delete their Snapchat account they must login to the website because it cannot be done through the application. This renders Snapchat less vulnerable to losing its users due to this difficult process and even if one does delete their account Snapchat offers a 30-day reactivation period; just in case. 

            Lastly, what makes Snapchat so appealing is its aesthetics and symbolism. Snapchat’s main colour is yellow; which is bright and vibrant, portraying positivity. Also, Snapchat encourages its users to create a “bitmoji”- a personal emoji, in order to have a Snap identity. This again links to the concept of interactivity; recognizing others by their “bitmoji” and connecting with them. Finally, Snapchat’s logo is the infamous ghost which represents the disposable messaging app. It symbolizes the impermanent natures of pictures and messages sent and received on the app because just like a ghost, you can only see the snapchat images or messages briefly before they disappear (unless saved otherwise).

References:

Baym, N. K. (2016). Personal connections in the digital age. Malden, MA: Polity Press.

A snapchat diagram of the five main screens

Screenshot of Snapchat camera screen- triangular blue button to send the photo