Snapchat is known for its unique features that allow users to send a picture to someone without the fear of it being saved by them. No other type of application or media outlet has allowed users that type of freedom, and has been as successful, although they have tried. Earlier this month Snapchat made its app even more interactive by adding an actual chat feature.
Team Snapchat explained on their blog that, “we felt Snapchat was missing an important part of conversation: presence.”
In the past users were limited to the text they could fit on the screen. The chat feature works as any other text messaging app would, only it allows you to see if the user is currently on the app, and the text shared disappears once you exit out of the chat.
The chat box, which is accessed by swiping to the right the name of the person you wish to chat with, also gives you some of the most recent updates on the pictures you and your friend may have shared.
The disappearing feature of Snapchat has given people a lot of freedom to send things they wouldn’t normally send, but now even though the chats disappear, there are still ways to screenshot. One of these ways is by simply tapping on the chat.
The change in the app is hard to adjust to at first, and almost seems unnecessary because if you have a person’s Snapchat, it’s very likely that you have their contact information as well.
In this app update, Snapchat has taken all of the features that an iPhone has and recreated it in their app. Some other similarities to the updated app and a regular iPhone are that it allows you to video chat with your Snapchat contacts, very similarly to FaceTime. Only this way isn’t as convenient as you have to make sure to continuously press down on the screen in order to keep the video conversation going.
It’s clear that Snapchat is trying it’s best to give users what it thinks they want, but Snapchat should just stick to what it’s good at- allowing embarrassing selfies to see the light of day for a maximum of 10 seconds.
