Snapchat is a social media format that allows posts of pictures and photographs that can be enhanced by drawing on them and changing them and that disappear after seconds after opening, or so I thought. Our preteen and teenage grandchildren love Snapchat. Even if we have young grandchildren, we should pay attention. Is Snapchat taking over our grandchildren’s future on line social media world and should we be worried about it?
Our eldest thirteen year old grandson has had a Snapchat account for a year or two. His ten year old sister is getting a phone as a holiday present. Of course he is furious that she is getting one earlier than he did, but, as I told him, that is the way with the second child. Who knows how young our grandchildren will get phones attached to them and attached to the internet!
He easily signed me up for Instagram and added himself so I could see his posts, but not Snapchat. At our most recent visit, he was glued to Snapchat. He will not let me look at his Snapchat page, but perfunctorily and reluctantly, nor will he teach me Snapchat, saying it is complicated. He answers my questions about the pictures disappearing in ten seconds after they are opened and a new story feature, which I have to admit that I could not understand. There are “filters” to add things to the pictures and “lenses” to put other things on the pictures. Apparently the stories do not disappear. I am worried about the so called stories and social media (for example, sexting!) in general as well, not with this first “follow the rules” grandchild, but I have three more grandchildren, hearing that children, preteens and teenagers may not realize the consequences of social media on their entire lives.
This Grandma set out to find out more about Snapchat. It was just weird that the same time I set out on this mission there were many news articles about Snapchat at the same time.
Grandpa and I wonder how all of these social media sites are worth so much money when they do not charge for use. We cannot help but believe they are retaining information on the users and selling the information. I know that sometimes I will shop on line, then go into my email account and immediately see ads for what I just shopped. Creepy. I never then buy the item, hoping it will stop. It doesn’t. I bring this up because the two articles listed in this post are all about the monetary value of Snapchat. It is beyond belief!
Katie Benner, in the New York Times article, “Snapchat Path To a Big Payday,” tells us that Snap is the company for Snapchat and they are headed for a public offering. So, apparently, to be cool, we must now use the new name for Snapchat which is Snap.
Discover is a public snap format for news and advertisements, which this Grandma now must add to Twitter and Instagram. If I cannot go private, at least I can go public, and learn.
Snapchat was created by two fraternity brothers from Stanford in 2011. It refused a $3 billion offer from Facebook in 2013, and is scheduled to make $1 billion this year alone. In addition to the pictures, photos and videos that disappear, it will have advertising platforms. What a surprise. This first article is where I found the “how to” video and the terms used on Snapchat. Take a look.
After watching this tutorial twice, I am still clueless. You can also read why advertisers love Snapchat. Even Tiffany’s has a special something that enables customers to do very special snaps while shopping in the store. I guess this draws a younger crowd or one whose brain speaks the social media language?
The newest and best thing, in this Grandma’s opinion to whom spoiling grandchildren is a top priority, is the one product Snap is producing. . . . Snap Spectacles! At $130 there is still time to buy such for grandchildren for the holidays 2016! Grandpa wondered if it would be like google glasses which seems a bust. Another article appeared. “We tried Snapchat Spectacles — here’s what it’s like.” Read for yourself.
Snap Spectacles are listed on their holiday buyers guide so this Grandma thinks she has hit paydirt. It is hard to buy preteens and teens anything as it must be electronic related. “They’re sunglasses with a connected camera inside. Spectacles can record 10-second video clips that upload to Snapchat via an iPhone or Android phone paired through Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Place them in the included case to recharge.” They light up when they are being used so people know they are being videoed. The case is the charger. They come in black, red and teal. The New York Times had not one but two articles about the spectacles, the first which tells of the experience of waiting on line six hours to buy a pair (!) and the second, “Trying Snap’s Spectacles: Live with the Look, Enjoy the View” which includes a video on how they work.
In the video you can see the teal color and it is a perfect color for preteens and teens.
Always leaving the best for last, the best article tells us that Snap has surpassed Twitter and is worth $30 billion dollars! Not bad for two fraternity brothers, now still in their twenties.
Again, it is a New York Times article, “While We Weren’t Looking, Snapchat Revolutionized Social Media” that is the best. I love Farhad Manjoo, the author. He said it seems that Snap is intentionally made to frustrate anyone over age 25! I do not feel so bad.
Is this the way the 20somethings are going to take over the world as they are taking over us Boomers in number? The article is a must read as it describes how Snap is taking over news, media, and overtaking Twitter.
Finally, we Boomers are not alone. Thirty somethings are also having trouble with Snap. Another article by a totally frustrated 32 year old who cannot figure out Snapchat will make you feel young again.
Now, how can we grandmas nab some of the Snap Spectacles for our grandchildren without waiting on line for six hours? As a parent, I still have nightmares of trying to locate a Cabbage Patch doll when they were sold out and a must have holiday present.
Joy,
Mema
Comments