In a world where social media has taken over the human mind, one platform seems to stand out in particular. Snapchat. A simple idea: send a picture and then it disappears. But Snapchat has become so much more than just communication.
Every day, Snapchat changes the entire social media realm with its innovative ideas and creative animations. Today, you can utilize Snapchat to post ‘stories,’ send videos, and even share your location through colorful geo-filters.
Junior Karina Rosa said, “Texting is fun, but Snapchat allows me to see their expressions and where they are. I enjoy that aspect of the app most.”
How did Snapchat come to be? and what makes it one of the most desirable apps ever created? What started as a small college project at Stanford University has become more than Evan Spiegel and Reggie Brown would have ever expected.
Snapchat is different than your average social application: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. Rather than publicizing your information, Snapchat is a platform that allows you to communicate with friends.
Social media websites tend to excessively publicize advertisements, but Snapchat is different. Snapchat allows users to read the news and talk with friends, without constant advertisements.
Senior Sam Myers said, “I like that you’re not just bombarded with information. It’s nice that your posts are just a temporary message and you don’t have a clogged up feed.”
Others enjoy the extra features. Snapchat has coined the popular term “Geo-Filter.” These filters allow you to place your location on a picture you have taken in a colorful and creative way.
Junior Brendan Archer said, “The geo-filters on Snapchat are pretty sweet. It’s cool that you can stamp your location onto pictures.”
Users are unaware that anybody with an email can create their own custom Geo-Filter for a specific location.
Snapchat utilizes five employees whose only purpose is to assess the Geo- Filters and decide which ones will be published.
Recently, a Geo-Filter has been added for Montgomery, Ohio, the home of several SHS students. The Leaf has made multiple Geo-Filters to submit, but none have been selected yet.