Snapchat is a revolutionary smart Phone app. With the click (or momentary hold) of a button, you can record whatever you’re doing the moment it’s happening. You can send a quick, 3 second ugly face to a friend, you can capture the awesome hotel you’re staying at while on vacation and send it to a bunch of people, or you could abuse it on a night out and wake up the next morning having absolutely no idea what you sent to those 30 people. Needless to say, Snapchat can be fun, but it can also be dangerous. Enter: The Snapstory.
I’ve seen them range from 5 seconds to over 2 minutes. They light up in the corner of your Snap camera and usually accumulate on the weekends, holidays, and other notable occasions. As far as the content is concerned, there are endless possibilities. A common theme, as far as I can tell, is for people to record something that translates into “Look what I’m doing, look where I am, isn’t it cool?!?” Granted, I must admit that I fall into this category at times, though I think I can speak for a lot of people when I say liquid courage is often behind these mini documentaries. Yes, Snapstories are a fun way to relive your night or a trip to a city with a cool filter, but when do they become more detrimental?
It doesn’t take much for these recordings to become excessive. On a college campus, it is quite possible that you’re at a party on a Friday night or getting ready for a night out. In fact, I’d be willing to say that it is a large possibility for a majority of the student body. But if so many stories are the same, why is it that they can be so entertaining to watch? I’m still trying to figure that out myself, and here’s what I’ve gathered so far: It’s fun to relive not only your night, but also the nights of people ranging from your best friend to a random guy you met once.
Yes, sometimes you hold down someone’s name just to get rid of the notification, but I admit that I usually watch the stories on my list (unless they’re ridiculously long … ). They can also make us feel a little bit better about our lives for that small length of time. It’s cool to see someone’s story when they’re at a concert for one of your favorite artists. Maybe they’re at a pet store looking at puppies. Or maybe (and this realization is the most shameful), you just feel good that you’re not the director of that story because they probably feel awful and very hungover this morning.
But when you really think about it, can Snapstories be your foe for reasons other than that they always involve partying or that they sometimes exceed 100 seconds? I say yes. As cliché as this may sound, it’s really important to look up from your phone once in a while. You’re at a concert; just appreciate the music you hear and the people you’re with — stop watching through your phone’s camera. If you’re having a fun night with friends, talk to them face to face instead of focusing on how candid your story is. Are you on a cool vacation? Live it; don’t just record it.
With so many Internet outlets that give you the chance to show off your life, it can be hard not to get sucked into the “look what I’m doing!” mentality. I’m not trying to discourage anyone from Snapchat; I know I’ll keep using it. Send that funny picture to your story, record one part of a song at a concert, include a few special pictures of your beautiful vacation. Just don’t forget to look up and actually experience the things you’re showing to all of your contacts.
Snapchat stories can definitely be your friend, but when used excessively or irresponsibly, they can also be your foe. And remember: Think before you snap.
