SnapChat is an app which allows you to send messages to your connections that “self destruct” once they’ve been viewed. So in other words, it allows you to send messages that you only want to be viewed once. After they are viewed, they are automatically deleted.

So the point of the app is to capture moments that you don’t want to live on forever. For this reason, I’ve concluded that SnapChat is a complete waste of time.

If you’re of the sexting type, this is the app you’ve been waiting for. You can send all the nudes and compromising photos that you want and feel secure that they will be deleted once they’re viewed.

Or will they?

Can’t the person receiving these messages take a screenshot and save it to their phone? Oh, yes they can. And by the way, according to a digital forensics examiner, your deleted snaps can still be retrieved from your device.

But what if you’re just using it to send funny jokes to friends? That’s fine– no harm in that I guess. But what’s the point?

My Big Issue

When I share messages with my friends, family or digital audience I want them to mean something. I only have a limited amount of time on this earth and when I leave it, I want my place to have counted.

Why would I waste time crafting messages, having experiences and social exchanges that are deleted once they’re viewed one time?

The premise of SnapChat is to create messages that will disappear once the exchange has taken place. In my opinion it devalues our experiences to momentary anecdotes that disappear and are forgotten.

“I don’t have time for SnapChat. I need to make it count.” -Josh Tapolski, Editor-in-Cheif, The Verge

Social media has revolutionized the way that we capture life. We can instantly share photos of our experiences with friends and family. We can craft interesting and engaging messages for our audiences and connect with new, interesting people.

Why waste your time creating messages, exchanges and experiences that disappear?

If you’re going to take time to craft a message, make it meaningful. Make it worth keeping forever.

But by all means, if you’re a prolific sexter and want to make sure nobody sees the ridiculous and shady crap you’re doing, SnapChat is definitely for you.

Have you tried SnapChat? Am I completely off base here? You can leave a comment by clicking here.