Snapchat grows up -- gets massive update
When Snapchat was first released, it served as nothing more than a way to send self-destructing pictures of your genitals to people -- even if that was not the intention. The theory was, you could share a nude picture and the recipient could not save a copy and it would expire. Of course, this proved to be false, as the recipient could easily do a screen grab.
Either way, it became wildly popular with millennials, and ultimately older folks too. It has grown into a much more G-rated service, which companies and brands are even utilizing. Today, the popular app gets a massive update -- you no longer have to hold your finger on the screen to view pictures and videos. Hallelujah!
"Today marks a pretty big change for Snapchat -- you no longer have to press and hold the screen to view a Snap or Story instead, simply Tap to View! This means no more tired thumbs while watching a several-hundred-second Story… and a little getting used to for anyone who has been Snapchatting for a while. We think you're going to love it!", says Team Snapchat.
This actually rolled out to Android last evening and caught me by surprise. While I am happy with the change, I fear it could negatively impact the DNA of the service. A comparable scenario is if Twitter removed the character limitation on Tweets. Sure, it makes things easier, but sometimes it is the quirkiness that makes a service stand out. Luckily, snaps are still timed and expire.
The team also explains, "there are also some new ways to make friends -- including Add Nearby. It's a quick way to add a group of friends when you're all hanging out together. If everyone opens Add Nearby, a list of your friends will appear on the screen. Just tap to add".
Of course, this only is beneficial if you have local human friends. Some people -- like yours truly -- prefer the online variants. Still it is damn cool and I can see how this can be a fun experience for the socially capable.
What I found really fun, however, is that I can add my handsome face to my snap code. As you can see on the top of the page, my face is now in the silhouette of the classic ghost. Snapchat says this will make it "easier for friends to recognize you when you add them on Snapchat". Makes sense.
Most importantly, however, the service is getting a big security update. The company has added the much-needed two-factor authentication. This will keep your profile much more secure.
Are you a Snapchat user? Share your snap code in the comments.