Megan Taylor
With the increase in popularity of smart phones, social media has skyrocketed, and it seems that everyone has the urge to post bits and pieces of their lives through pictures, videos, and status updates. One particular app, SnapChat, was released in September 2011 and allows users to send pictures and videos for up to 10 seconds to their friends. Once viewed the picture self-destructs – unless the viewer screenshots the picture.
The Apple App Store states, “Please note: even though Snaps are deleted from our servers after they are viewed, we cannot prevent the recipient(s) from capturing and saving the message by taking a screenshot or using an image capture device.”
Germantown senior Myles Williams likes the app.
“It’s awesome. You can send funny pictures, and only you choose what people you want to see it,” Williams said.
In recent updates, SnapChat creators have added features such as filters, different text fonts, and SnapChat story.
“All the new stuff is a little unnecessary though,” Williams stated.
While the original app allowed posters to view items for a short, limited time, the changes now allow for longer viewing.
“If you want to share a Snap with all of your friends, add it to your SnapChat Story where each Snap lives for 24 hours until it disappears, making room for the new,” the App Store explains.
Founded by two former Stanford frat brothers, Evan Spiegel and Bobby Murphy, SnapChat has taken off since its launch. According to ExpandedRamblings.com, there are 26 million American SnapChat users, and 32% of US teens (13-17) use the app. While many teenagers do use the app, some view it differently.
“Snapchat is something that cures your boredom, but it’s risky because they save your photos,” senior Anna Leslie said.
Freshman Kameron Walker doesn’t like what makes the app unique.
“I don’t like the time limits; the picture disappears too fast,” Walker told.
Walker’s problem with the app was exactly what created it in the first place.
“The idea for the company came from a college friend who said, ‘I wish these photos I am sending this girl would disappear,’” Spiegel told Forbes.com.
This sort of statement is a red flag for parents, and there are countless numbers of blogs and articles writing by parents warning against the dangers of SnapChat.
In an interview with TechCrunch.com, “Spiegel said most user feedback from direct emails and Twitter posts is about sending funny faces and messages, not racy images.”
Frank Brown, the friend who came to Spiegel with the idea, is now suing the two creators for stealing his idea. According to AdamMalone.com in their court case it was revealed that “SnapChat was created as a ‘safe’ sexting app.”
This concerns parents even more -- especially considering the main age of SnapChat users is between 13-25, 70% of which are women.
SnapChat continues to refute these claims and says, “It’s about the moment, a connection between friends in the present, and not just a pretty picture.”
With the increase in popularity of smart phones, social media has skyrocketed, and it seems that everyone has the urge to post bits and pieces of their lives through pictures, videos, and status updates. One particular app, SnapChat, was released in September 2011 and allows users to send pictures and videos for up to 10 seconds to their friends. Once viewed the picture self-destructs – unless the viewer screenshots the picture.
The Apple App Store states, “Please note: even though Snaps are deleted from our servers after they are viewed, we cannot prevent the recipient(s) from capturing and saving the message by taking a screenshot or using an image capture device.”
Germantown senior Myles Williams likes the app.
“It’s awesome. You can send funny pictures, and only you choose what people you want to see it,” Williams said.
In recent updates, SnapChat creators have added features such as filters, different text fonts, and SnapChat story.
“All the new stuff is a little unnecessary though,” Williams stated.
While the original app allowed posters to view items for a short, limited time, the changes now allow for longer viewing.
“If you want to share a Snap with all of your friends, add it to your SnapChat Story where each Snap lives for 24 hours until it disappears, making room for the new,” the App Store explains.
Founded by two former Stanford frat brothers, Evan Spiegel and Bobby Murphy, SnapChat has taken off since its launch. According to ExpandedRamblings.com, there are 26 million American SnapChat users, and 32% of US teens (13-17) use the app. While many teenagers do use the app, some view it differently.
“Snapchat is something that cures your boredom, but it’s risky because they save your photos,” senior Anna Leslie said.
Freshman Kameron Walker doesn’t like what makes the app unique.
“I don’t like the time limits; the picture disappears too fast,” Walker told.
Walker’s problem with the app was exactly what created it in the first place.
“The idea for the company came from a college friend who said, ‘I wish these photos I am sending this girl would disappear,’” Spiegel told Forbes.com.
This sort of statement is a red flag for parents, and there are countless numbers of blogs and articles writing by parents warning against the dangers of SnapChat.
In an interview with TechCrunch.com, “Spiegel said most user feedback from direct emails and Twitter posts is about sending funny faces and messages, not racy images.”
Frank Brown, the friend who came to Spiegel with the idea, is now suing the two creators for stealing his idea. According to AdamMalone.com in their court case it was revealed that “SnapChat was created as a ‘safe’ sexting app.”
This concerns parents even more -- especially considering the main age of SnapChat users is between 13-25, 70% of which are women.
SnapChat continues to refute these claims and says, “It’s about the moment, a connection between friends in the present, and not just a pretty picture.”