Snapchat is one of the most popular social media sites in the world. But why is it so popular? Keep reading and you'll find out!
But let's start with what Snapchat is. Snapchat originated in 2011 from Stanford graduate students. The app was created as a timed sharing platform where friends could "click" a photo and send it to their friends and choose how long they could see the photo. Then the picture was gone forever. But the days of sending only pictures are over. Over the years, the app has grown significantly to include things like messages, videos, filters, voice message, stories and much more. (Let's not forget the popular dogs filter). Snapchat is only available on mobile phones, which is wise to the primary audience.
Okay, but why is it so popular?
Photos are temporary: Photos you send to your friends disappear as they view the message and stories disappear by the day.
Filters: Filters provide a fun way for users to interact with friends through their own photos with different looks.
Friends: The app provides an easy way for friends to stay in touch. A new feature, Snap Map, allows friends to share their location on a map so they can see what their friends are doing around the world. The map also has "hot spots" where there is a lot of Snapchat features such as events that users can watch.
But if Snapchat is so popular then it must have some impact on the community, isn't it? Selfies, filters, stories - this all seems to be innocent fun and a great way to connect with friends. But could the popular Snapchat app have a negative impact on mental health? According to some experts, it does.
Snapchat's negative spiritual effects include things like anxiety, loneliness, and depression. Looking over carefully filtered images of other teens can also lead to body awareness and eating disorders, fear of missing out and bullying. This all comes at a time when many young people are particularly vulnerable and have low self-esteem.
