The use of social media has connected the world in ways like never before. This platform allows for loved ones and friends the opportunity to communicate with each other across the street, town, state, country, and even the world. This concept is remarkable because this kind of technology with human interaction has only been around for about 20 years.

It has come a long way since the very first social platform was created in 1997 called Six Degrees. This site allowed anyone to create a profile and simply add and make friends. In the twenty-first century, there are so many more platforms that include Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and Snapchat. Out of all of these platforms, Snapchat easily is the most malicious as it relates to chaining teenagers to the app.

Snapchat is a business, so its main goal is to earn money. The more users Snapchat has on the app, the more advertisement it can stream out bringing in more revenue. As Snapchat has grown older the company’s tactics of keeping users entertained and attached to the app has become much more sophisticated. People need to remember that behind Snapchat are professional marketers aiming to find ways to make the app a must-have necessity.

At first, the big craze about Snapchat is the fact the communication could be done through photos and the best part was that these photos “disappeared” after a certain amount of time. This took the world by storm and millions of people hopped on the bandwagon even though this concept seemed a little controversial. This is what hooked users, but Snapchat is a company so the goal is always to increase the number of users and how often those users are on Snapchat.

Snapchat came up with a solution with a concept called streaks. It tracks the number days photos are sent between individuals. It soon became cool to have the most or highest streaks with friends which is precisely how Snapchat has made many people addicted to the app. In addition to this, later updates brought about filters that can edit photos along with direct and group messaging and stories. All of this put together has made many people addicted to Snapchat.

As it relates to BV West throughout hallways, classrooms, cars and outside of school Snapchat is constantly being used. This is very troubling because sometimes instead of communicating and actually building a relationship with someone, students are choosing to send irrelevant photos or videos at inappropriate times when one should be learning or better yet developing real relationships with people.

Neither the students nor Snapcaht is to blame really. Snapchat is simply a company trying to make a profit while students are reeled in by their tactics. It would be great if students could put down Snapchat or even their phones to communicate face to face with each other. Some of the best memories come from telling jokes and further building relationships like in the “good old days.” While phones and Snapchat are fun it would be nice if students would realize there is so much more to life than looking down at a phone while the world passes by.