Glimpse and Snaps

The Allure of Effervescence

The utility of Snapchat is obvious. Firstly, there is the control aspect of it, being able to know who sees what, when, and whether they decided to keep what you said is certainly appealing. Secondly, the effervescence of it is useful. Anything you send will disappear as soon as they open it, or rather, if you post something to your story, it will be there for twenty-four hours. It is interesting to think about where this need for control and a picture that disappears comes from, however. What use could someone have for a picture that only lasts a second?

My first idea is that the company that created Snapchat is trying to bring back the idea of a moment. By allowing people to send a single picture, it brings back the idea of a moment being here, then gone. Being shared simply for the memory, and the inclusion of that activity. In a time when 'vintage' is being honored simply for the aesthetic appeal, such as the revival of one snap polaroid cameras, that take one unique picture, and the love for a record, painstakingly etched and fragile., it is easy to see why the recent generation has taken a liking to something that gives them more control over their social media. 

On Snapchat, you only see what you want to see.  You have to choose to see something, and you know what you're getting into, instead of mindlessly scrolling through a newsfeed. This, to me, has made Snapchat a platform where one can reclaim more time from the turmoil of social media, and be able to actively choose what they are sending and what they are seeing.  

As someone who absolutely does not care about the affairs of celebrities, I don't have to look at their stories. The app, of course, is changing, throwing in ads between each story. You can, of course, simply tap through, instead of having to sit through, but it is apparent to see that the platform is changing.

A Sinister Drawback?

My second idea is that Snapchat was born from a rebellion. From a generation that was born into computers, we almost always had age limits and rules in order to use the internet. You can never be too careful after all. Perhaps, then, the app was born from a need to have more privacy with the things you discuss or send. Even if your guardians or friends have your password, they won't see anything if they go into that particular app.  This gives young adults more freedom, but can pose a problem for the younger generation who may or may not know how to use that power in a way that won't cause negative repercussions to them . 

Whether this app successfully gives people back more time or consumes it in a new way is definitely debateable. There are always pros and cons to any type of interaction.