Snapchat is an app that allows people to network and socialize through its technology. Snapchat allows users to take photos and videos of present time to another user. Present time photos and videos may be viewed only once or twice lasting about 10 seconds at most. It also allows you to share photos or videos directly from your gallery along with sharing your photos or videos on your story, only public for 24 hours. You may also text on Snapchat, however if you don't save the chats then it will disappear when you go back to your main screen.
Snapchat is the perfect app for our generation of short attention-span with exciting content, straight to the point. People often share fun experiences on Snapchat and the bright side of life, often distorting the realities of people's lives. This creates a community of people who compete to share the best experiences in life. Snapchat also encourages the use of filters, often enhancing one's physical attributions to fit societal expectations and values. It also encourages the practice of selfies, contributing to narcissist personalities. Narcissist personalities linked to constant selfies make people feel the need to always look a certain way or be self-conscious. They feel the need to look like anything but their actual selves. These people often feel the need to take photos and post them to get positive feedback to further assure them they look "socially pleasing". However, this becomes a cycle and continues.
In addition, Snapchat has allowed many large corporations and brands to promote and advertise their goods, services, and brand in general. Snapchat does this through filters and now they have integrated a separate screen to further advertise different brands such as Cosmopolitan, Buzzfeed, Tastemade, People, Vogue, Bazaar etc. These brands often feed the users information that are socially constructed and socially valued. This information may be as useless as popular beliefs about love, sex, men, women, food etc.
Snapchat is a harmful app to a person who does not understand the complexities, systems, goals, and messages it is sending towards its audience. Snapchat is like a camera that polices one's existence and life. It is also affiliated with harmful and violent societal expectations and values, that may greatly affect a person. It may greatly influence one's understanding of their body, identity, thoughts, and life.
One thing that really stood out to me here was how snapchat is a perfect app for people in our generation because of our short attention span. It is true that our lives, especially as college students, go by so fast that we are only interested in the highlights of one's story instead of the story of a 24-hour long day. As we in a way "compete for the best story" I find it interesting that perhaps there was a significant amount of more time spent on the creation of one's snapchat story than the actual story itself. I imagine people, narcissists in particular, taking dozens of selfies using different filters all in an effort to choose only one with an 8 second timer. I do also believe that the filters snapchat uses is harmful to the societal expectations of how people should look like because if anyone falls short of these expectations they can expect to be treated differently than someone who fits the description of "societal standard." I do also believe, however, that snapchat has realized this to a minor degree because not all filters make a person look more attractive or beautiful. Some filters literally turn you into a hideous monster or to have an unrealistic deformed head. This isn't to say that the app is perfect for offering both choices, because they know people would rather enhance their image rather than make it any worse, however, moving away from pure facial enhancement is a start.
ReplyDeleteWith the exceptions of Facebook and YouTube, Snapchat may just be the most influential social media to grace our screens. It pioneered the disappearing message, something that simply furthers the attention span deficiencies that technology has influenced so much already. It has since evolved to be something much more, including introducing its "stories", a news app, and a way to keep up with your favorite celebrities. I would have to agree with you in that it is, in general, harmful to society. Its influence it has already changed how our society interacts, and will likely continue to do so.
ReplyDeleteIt is so important that companies use Snapchat to advertise, especially with celebrity endorsements. Did you hear about how Kylie Jenner said something along the lines of "who even uses snap anymore?" and their ratings dropped drastically?? It's ridiculous how influential a social media platform can be when paired with a celebrity!
ReplyDeleteI also love that you mentioned the short attention span of this generation. It's so sad and so true. I always thought that snap was for sending inappropriate things as well as the short attn span these kids have these days.
Lastly, I agree that people want to show their best life on all social media. You rarely see anyone posting about being depressed or anything negative. It's all trips to the Bahamas, getting engaged, and buying a house. This allows us to perceive everyone else's life as better than ours. It literally forces us to compare and compete with each other without knowing anything other than what they post online.