BY VICTORIA WHITE, Freshman
BLYTHEWOOD - Who knew recording short clips of yourself would become a worldwide trend? Since its release in September 2011, Snapchat now has over 100 million active daily users.
Why it’s popular
Snapchat is a popular app that allows users to send pictures and limited clips called ‘snaps’ to friends and followers and will disappear when viewed.
“I have been using Snapchat for three years now, and I use it on a daily basis. I love it. It is a great app to use and it helps connect me with my friends,” freshman Jenna Kiser said.
The ability to send amusing images of yourself without worrying about it coming back in the future appeals to the younger targets and allows the moments to be shared and liked.
Target audiences
Not only does this social media attract young teenagers, but study polls taken by Mashable show that around 77 percent of college students use Snapchat daily.
Snapchat also gains users through businesses and advertisements, so it is not only for entertainment. Advertising on this app allows businesses to seem less invasive.
“I think it is a really cool and fun way to connect with your friends and see what they are doing. I think people use it to keep in touch with their friends and family members,” freshman Rikki George said.
It also allows celebrities to catch up with fans and follow their careers.
“In the future, we'd like to support upcoming artists, people that are trying to be actors,” Evan Spiegel, creator of Snapchat, told Business Insider.
This app allows users to view any moment captured and sent directly to them, or posted on a story, and also lets users filter and edit clips.
“People use snapchat most of the time to ‘jump on the bandwagon’ and to have fun with their friends. Almost every person I know is using snapchat” Kiser said.
History of Snapchat
Spiegel had the idea of creating this app in 2011. At the time, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter were all very popular.
Facebook was used to update family and friends, Instagram for photography, and Twitter was where everyone was to comment on their current state.
Spiegel wanted to balance all three of these favored social media applications, so Snapchat became the new trend.
“Traditional social media, in the view of our company, has become a bit repetitive. It doesn't feel very good to be marketed to by your friends. Snapchat is different because it says, look, friends aren't valuable to you just because they can get you into a cool party,” Spiegel said.
Snapchat is the competition
In early 2015, Snapchat launched a feature that allows users to receive content produced by top media companies.
Since it launched in 2011, it developed a reputation for fast growth. Within four years, it has become one of the most used social media apps, trailing behind only Facebook and Instagram but beating Twitter, and having the highest number of active users daily.
