Released in 2011, Snapchat was soon on everyone’s phones. Originally, it was created to have a more casual, pressure-free way to share awkward selfies, without the stress of permanent digital footprints. Also to make digital communication feel more like a real-time, face-to-face conversation. But the meaning behind the app has quickly changed.
Many people nowadays use the “disappearing” chats to send harmful and inappropriate messages or images to other people; these could be nudes, harmful messages, or videos. When they vanish shortly after being seen, they can no longer be used as evidence to support bullying, threats, or harassment. Also, the feature of location sharing is a huge negative. Knowing where someone is 24/7 can be a good thing sometimes, but usually causes deficits in relationships. For example, seeing all your close friends gathered somewhere on the “Snap Map” can make you feel left out, exacerbating anxiety or depression.
As for relationships with significant others, Snapchat causes countless arguments and miscommunications. Something as simple as leaving someone on opened, taking too long to respond, or questioning who they are snapping. People begin questioning who their partner is talking to, why they are active but not responding, why their snap score is going up, or even who’s on their best friends list. Instead of focusing on building a healthy relationship, couples find themselves arguing over things that happen on an app. This app has created a completely different level of jealousy and insecurity in today’s relationships (I know that is true for me).
As well, I think Snap has taken away some of the effort and excitement that used to come with dating. Instead of calling someone, having meaningful conversations, or making plans, many people settle for sending pictures back and forth all day. You could talk to someone every single day on Snapchat and still know almost nothing about them. We have become so accustomed to communicating through a screen (especially Snap) that face-to-face interactions sometimes feel like a thought that was pushed to the side. When did sending pictures of the ceiling or the wall back and forth become a normality?
I am not saying that Snapchat is entirely responsible for ruining relationships or love, or that every couple experiences these problems. However, I do think we have allowed it to play a much bigger role in our relationships than it should. There is a difference between connecting with someone online and connecting with someone in person.