Opinions that will anger people

Snapchat

Wooo this is probably going to be a long one, but let me just say it straight and clear.

Snapchat sucks.

Yeah, wow, what a discovery.

I'm so very happy my parents never let me get a phone since around a year or two ago, and without having a phone, I never had any sort of chatting device other than Teams and Wattpad. One which I used for school, and the other I used just to read cutesy Minecraft fanfiction fluff.

Now the whole phone discussion is a different topic for a different time, but let's go and slip ourselves into the world of Snapchat. 

On the surface of Snapchat, everything seems completely normal, it's just a chatting app, right?

Wrong. 

Well, let's start on the history of Snapchat.

Snapchat was originally called "Peek-a-boo" and was relevant to sexual activity. And honestly, it really hasn't changed that much.  

Just like most other social platforms, Snapchat is addicting. The worst part is, the whole addiction to Snapchat is brushed off as people: "Just wanting to chat to their friends."

Yet, the addiction is something underlying. It sounds a little odd, but I've been watching my friends and how they use Snapchat. There's something different about messaging a friend over Messages, and snaping them. Both, are basically the same thing though.

Personally, I've never really been addicted to anything (other than Wattpad) and something I've noticed is that every time somebody opens Snapchat, they tune out everything else. It's almost as if they just need to put this and that on their story, use this and that filter (also another topic for later) and just message.

There is hardly any meaning behind the messages on Snap chat. They are purely mindless photos. Often just they're just black pictures. It does truly confuse me what they are for. 

Back to the filter topic, but I've also noticed next to my little observations of my friends, is that next to sending pictures around, almost every single person uses a filter. While sure, the filter may be a funny and goofy one. You must also have it noted that aside from the cowboy hat and moustache you end up having in the picture, all of your facial imperfections are gone.

I've been reading an article and have stumbled upon the words: "We have gotten so used to seeing each other with a Snapchat filter that we often forget that real humans don't look like that. This reinforces the idea that humans are supposed to look a certain way, and CAN look this way at all times." 

These words are exactly what the filters do. And you'll probably say: "Oh you're just overreacting. Nobody thinks like that."

And you're wrong. Everybody thinks like that. While it may sound crazy, it's just the truth.

Of course, no shame if you use a filter, but this still leads me to the eluding question of why people like Snapchat so much? What really is the addiction?

Obviously the whole build up of conversation is a massive con of Snapchat, let's talk about the app itself.

First of all, Snapchat company uses third party apps, like Facebook. This means: "advertisers can link a user's Snapchat account with their phone number and use it for other marketing purposes without notifying the user."

Your information is just blatantly sold and given out to other company's.

Second of all, there's a map tracking you.

Yeah, a map.

Sure, it's helpful to know where your friends are. But let's be real. It's just stalking by now.

Of course you can turn this all off, but sometimes you just forget.

Lastly, it's so easy for people to get put in danger because of Snapchat. Do I really have to explain this one? No, so I won't. :)

It's getting late for me (aka it's 12:04 am and I have so much to do for ASTA so I'll head off to bed in a second)

Bye bye my little biscuits!

~Positive (Po) 

(links to the websites I used: https://www.cyberwise.org/post/the-pros-and-cons-of-snapchat-on-kids-mental-health

and

https://www.mostlyblogging.com/cons-of-snapchat/#Snapchat_History )