In the era of technology, people around the globe are using platforms like Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), and Instagram. These social media apps are used worldwide on a large scale, with 5.8 billion users. On September 16, 2011, Evan Spiegel and Bobby Murphy founded Snapchat. This app has more than 414 million daily active users and has become one of the most popular social media platforms globally.

Snapchat allows its users to capture memories with friends and family while providing endless entertainment through its filters. The most popular age group on Snapchat is between 15-25 years old. The introduction of Snapstreaks added a gamification element that drives user engagement by fostering a sense of social obligation to maintain consecutive Snap exchanges. Snapchat ingeniously capitalizes on user behavior, making the app inherently addictive.
Now, let us discuss how Snapchat is affecting people's daily lives. Snapchat began as a real-time messaging platform with filters designed to enhance selfies. While initially perceived as a fun way to improve appearance, these filters have had negative consequences on self-perception, particularly among adolescents. The filters, which smooth skin, enlarge eyes, and lighten skin tone, reinforce unattainable beauty standards rooted in Western society. This obsession with idealized beauty, perpetuated by social media, leads to a harmful cycle where users, especially young people, become increasingly dissatisfied with their natural appearance.
As a result, Snapchat filters contribute to heightened self-obsession and reliance on external validation. The app's addictive nature, driven by constantly updated filters, exacerbates issues like anxiety, depression, and body dysmorphia. The term "Snapchat dysmorphia" has emerged to describe the growing trend of individuals seeking plastic surgery to emulate the perfection depicted in these filters. This distortion of beauty ideals highlights the powerful and often detrimental influence social media has on how we view ourselves.

How Snapchat Can Ruin Relationships?

“It is just Snapchat.” Flirting, cheating, and jealousy have been focal points of problems within relationships forever. Snapchat was created to help people bond with their friends and love interests, no matter where they are in the world. Other social media apps like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter are more public sharing platforms. However, Snapchat provides ways for people to be more discreet, which indirectly causes more wariness within relationships. Snapchat can make you wonder what your partner is doing and who they are interacting with when you are not around. Uneasiness within relationships can arise from still having flirtatious conversations with others while being in a committed relationship. This can be quite easy to do on Snapchat since the pictures and videos disappear, and your partner may never know what sneaky picture was sent late at night. The disappearing texts after a certain amount of time and pictures vanishing in less than ten seconds create easy and accessible ways for cheating and flirting to occur within relationships.
Many arguments within relationships can stem from a person’s activity on Snapchat. Snapchat prevents people from engaging in face-to-face conversations. It can be easy to constantly check Snapchat while conversing with others. Imagine finally being asked out on a date, and it is going well until you look over and the other person opens Snapchat, continuing to send and receive pictures. Since Snapchat is easily accessible and thrilling to use in certain aspects, people are avoiding real-life conversations and interactions. The reduction in the number of in-person interactions is causing people to feel lonelier and believe that finding a love interest is difficult.

Is Snapchat Safe?

Well, it collects your data and information. Snapchat, like Google, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, WhatsApp, Instagram, and all those popular apps you have downloaded from the App Store or Play Store, collects your data. When you use its service, you need to create an account where you fill in your information and allow all the permissions it asks for. That is, you have just given away your privacy. It is that easy for these app companies to collect your data and information, share it with their thousands of partners, and sell it to third-party companies for their gains and benefits.
Snapchat is intended for users over 13, but younger kids can still join since there is no user verification. While most content is harmless, it is unfiltered, and there is a risk of inappropriate interactions like sexting and cyberbullying. Additionally, the Common-Sense Privacy Program evaluates Snapchat’s privacy level at 64%, giving it a “Warning” sign. Parents should pay attention to their kids. While Snapchat may be entertaining, it does come with risks. This can inadvertently lead to issues like stalking, harassment, bullying, and even physical threats.
Many disadvantages to this app need further discussion, especially regarding its algorithm and how it can make someone addicted. Snapchat’s constant updates and engaging features can lead to excessive use, which may contribute to sleep problems and decreased productivity. Additionally, the pressure to present a perfect image can harm self-esteem and increase feelings of inadequacy. We should all use social media apps wisely, as they can negatively impact our lives. They have the potential to destroy mental health and relationships by causing dissatisfaction with one’s life. It is important to balance online interactions with real-life connections and set limits on app usage to protect our well-being.

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