Snapchat Snapchat EvolutionEvolution

By: Danny McClureBy: Danny McClure

What is Snapchat?What is Snapchat? SnapchatSnapchat is a fun messaging  is a fun messaging

application for sharing moments. application for sharing moments. You can take a photo or a video, add You can take a photo or a video, add a caption or doodle, and send it to a a caption or doodle, and send it to a friend or add it to your story to friend or add it to your story to share with some or all of your share with some or all of your friends. Friends can view snaps for friends. Friends can view snaps for up to 10 seconds, and then it up to 10 seconds, and then it disappears. disappears.

The BeginningThe Beginning Snapchat was delevoped by Evan Spiegel and Bobby Snapchat was delevoped by Evan Spiegel and Bobby

Murphy in 2011.Murphy in 2011.

The guys decided they wanted a way to send “awkward The guys decided they wanted a way to send “awkward selfies and funny photos with [their] friends,” without selfies and funny photos with [their] friends,” without worrying about it coming back to haunt them later. worrying about it coming back to haunt them later.

Originally, Snapchat users could take and send photos or Originally, Snapchat users could take and send photos or videos. Once opened by friends, the photo or video would videos. Once opened by friends, the photo or video would last anywhere from 1 to 10 seconds before disappearing last anywhere from 1 to 10 seconds before disappearing forever. forever.

Snapchat in ComparisonSnapchat in Comparison

ExamplesExamples

ExamplesExamples

The ScreenshotThe Screenshot From the beginning, photos or videos sent out to From the beginning, photos or videos sent out to

friends have the possibility of being friends have the possibility of being screeshotted, or “saved” before they disappear. screeshotted, or “saved” before they disappear. This means that your friends have the ability of This means that your friends have the ability of capturing something embarrassing you send out capturing something embarrassing you send out and saving it to their phone.and saving it to their phone.

By limiting the number of seconds friends can By limiting the number of seconds friends can view your snapchats before they disappear, view your snapchats before they disappear, Snapchat users can make it difficult for friends to Snapchat users can make it difficult for friends to screenshot, but as we all know, it’s never screenshot, but as we all know, it’s never impossible.impossible.

ScreenshotScreenshot

Our Campus StoryOur Campus Story The “Our Campus Story” feature of Snapchat The “Our Campus Story” feature of Snapchat

was released in 2014. was released in 2014.

Campus Stories are special Live Stories created Campus Stories are special Live Stories created for selected college campuses. Only for selected college campuses. Only Snapchatters whose phones indicate they’re in Snapchatters whose phones indicate they’re in and around a campus, or were there in the last and around a campus, or were there in the last 24 hours, are able to post to and view the 24 hours, are able to post to and view the Campus Story. Campus Stories are a special Campus Story. Campus Stories are a special place to share and see what is happening on your place to share and see what is happening on your campus campus

Syracuse SnapsSyracuse Snaps

Campus Story Cont.Campus Story Cont. The Campus story feature was one of the first Snapchat The Campus story feature was one of the first Snapchat

additions that could serve as a local news source for additions that could serve as a local news source for students on campus.students on campus.

Somebody could post a snap to the campus story informing Somebody could post a snap to the campus story informing people that a particular class in cancelled, or sending a people that a particular class in cancelled, or sending a photo of the final score in the universities football game.photo of the final score in the universities football game.

This feature allows for students on a particular campus to This feature allows for students on a particular campus to remain up to date on news that’s happening on or around remain up to date on news that’s happening on or around campus, while also interacting with their friends and campus, while also interacting with their friends and classmates. classmates.

Snapchat DiscoverSnapchat Discover https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbOMqA2AOIkhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbOMqA2AOIk

Snapchat Discover is so innovative because it has found a Snapchat Discover is so innovative because it has found a way to bring to smartphones the 1970s television way to bring to smartphones the 1970s television experience of few channels, rich content, and limited time experience of few channels, rich content, and limited time to watch. to watch.

Austin Carr -"If your email inbox was going to disappear in Austin Carr -"If your email inbox was going to disappear in 24 hours… you would feel the need to actually read every 24 hours… you would feel the need to actually read every single email. That’s the genius of Snapchat." single email. That’s the genius of Snapchat."

According to Snapchat, the top Discover channels attract According to Snapchat, the top Discover channels attract more viewers than most cable channels. more viewers than most cable channels.

Discover Cont.Discover Cont.

Snapchat discover allows users to access the news quickly, Snapchat discover allows users to access the news quickly, with just a few thumb clicks on their cell phones. with just a few thumb clicks on their cell phones.

Users can access the news they want, when they want. For Users can access the news they want, when they want. For example, users can simply click on the “ESPN” category in example, users can simply click on the “ESPN” category in discover rather than watching the news on television and discover rather than watching the news on television and waiting for the sports segment. waiting for the sports segment.

This also works for Cosmopolitan, Comedy Central, CNN, This also works for Cosmopolitan, Comedy Central, CNN, Buzzfeed, National Geographic, and many others. Buzzfeed, National Geographic, and many others.

With discover, users can access live updates almost With discover, users can access live updates almost immediately and at their own convenience, which sets immediately and at their own convenience, which sets Snapchat apart from many other news platforms.Snapchat apart from many other news platforms.

Discover Cont.Discover Cont. ““The content on Snapchat Discover The content on Snapchat Discover

is goodis good——ideal for anyone looking to scan ideal for anyone looking to scan a few essential stories on their way into a few essential stories on their way into work (or as they procrastinate once work (or as they procrastinate once they’ve finally reached their desk). It’s they’ve finally reached their desk). It’s fun to use, too; each story is comprised fun to use, too; each story is comprised of concise bits of text and a healthy of concise bits of text and a healthy number of photos and videos, making number of photos and videos, making them visually appealing and easy to them visually appealing and easy to digest.” digest.”

Discover Cons/GeneralDiscover Cons/General It’s easy to dismiss Snapchat It’s easy to dismiss Snapchat

Discover as frivolous, or an insult Discover as frivolous, or an insult to the people publishing real news.to the people publishing real news.

Snapchat news is brief, simplistic, Snapchat news is brief, simplistic, and often doesn’t provide viewers and often doesn’t provide viewers with every detail on what they’re with every detail on what they’re seeking out.seeking out.

Dangers of SnapchatDangers of Snapchat

Kids as well of users of all ages should be Kids as well of users of all ages should be aware of who they’re exchanging information aware of who they’re exchanging information with.with.

Users of all ages should know that 1) Nothing is Users of all ages should know that 1) Nothing is private and 2) Anything you do on social media private and 2) Anything you do on social media can last forever. can last forever.

Snapchat often gives teens the wrong Snapchat often gives teens the wrong impression that once a photo or video is impression that once a photo or video is opened, it is gone forever, never to be seen opened, it is gone forever, never to be seen again. This is not always the case. again. This is not always the case.

TimelineTimeline

Why Social Platforms are Why Social Platforms are ConvergingConverging

Engagement.Engagement. Having original, native content keeps  Having original, native content keeps people in apps like Facebook and Snapchat longer.people in apps like Facebook and Snapchat longer.

Mobile.Mobile. Increasingly, content is being consumed on  Increasingly, content is being consumed on mobile devices, not desktops. Social platforms offer mobile devices, not desktops. Social platforms offer better mobile experiences than many publishers do.better mobile experiences than many publishers do.

Money.Money. Advertising companies spend about $80  Advertising companies spend about $80 billion on television ads in the US. Those ad dollars billion on television ads in the US. Those ad dollars are finally shifting toward digital video content in a are finally shifting toward digital video content in a meaningful way. All the social platforms want a meaningful way. All the social platforms want a chunk of it. That means they need video content to chunk of it. That means they need video content to sell ads across. Those videos can be generated by sell ads across. Those videos can be generated by users, media companies, or internally.users, media companies, or internally.

ConclusionConclusion Snapchat definitely has its pros and Snapchat definitely has its pros and

cons. Snapchat offers many great, cons. Snapchat offers many great, unique things in the social media world, unique things in the social media world, but it’s important that users are aware but it’s important that users are aware of the dangers that come with it. The of the dangers that come with it. The addition of Snapchat Discover raises a addition of Snapchat Discover raises a couple of questions:couple of questions: Is Snapchat a reliable news source?Is Snapchat a reliable news source? Does Snapchat serve as a good Does Snapchat serve as a good

illustration for the direction in which illustration for the direction in which the future of news is heading?the future of news is heading?