Two words: Snap. Chat. Ok, so technically one, I get it, but it’s a compound word so same-ish. It’s everyone’s favorite app. And their most hated. I don’t know a single person that has it that isn’t annoyed by its existence and chances are, neither do you. So why are we still snapping?

First, a mini crash course for the 31% of you who’ve made the wise decision not to download it (hopefully you never do). Those of you who’ve already succumbed to the dark side, feel free to skip ahead, this part is mostly just a review (rant). Snapchat is like any other social media/communication platform: photo sharing, direct messaging, community pages … you name it, Instagram’s #1 competitor has it. But the key feature of Snap that sets it apart from its less successful contemporaries is its impermanence. Stories posted to your profile delete after 24 hours, videos sent to friends disappear post-viewing, and chats remain for a maximum of 1 day and poof, before you know it they’re gone! Sure, there are hacks (s/o Tik Tok, Quora, and Reddit) that allow you to manipulate the time sensitive nature of the app, but for the most part, these are the ground rules that every Snapchat user has to play by. 

That’s nothing worth getting so worked up about though, right? Wrong. Here are a few reasons I have unrequited beef with Snap (by no means is this a comprehensive list, these are just the aspects I take most issue with so feel free to add your own!):

• Forgetting what you were talking about because it’s socially unacceptable to replay snaps
• Unironically using “snap” as a noun (an image sent to someone)
• Unironically using “snap” as a verb (to send an image or chat to someone)
• Feeling obligated to add people to your private story if they added you first, even if you aren’t particularly close to or comfortable with sharing aspects of your life with them
• Creating content for multiple private stories to cater to your besties, friends, and mutuals
• Sending streaks … pretty self explanatory 
• Being unable to see the contents of a message until you open it (cough *side swipe*)
• Having to reply immediately so you don’t seem like a jerk for leaving someone on seen
• Indefinitely sending pics of your face with no context or conversation just to uphold a facade of closeness between two people that are practically strangers
• Masking insecurities to manage expectations about always showing a “full face” or else people will be convinced you are uninterested/avoiding them
• Being curved by people for weeks to avoid them leaving you on seen (if I respond “lol,” I’m 100% trying to end the conversation so please, be my guest and leave me on seen)
• Adding by search being so uncouth it’s basically forbidden … it’s hard work manipulating your quick adds algorithm to spit out the users you want to befriend ok!!!
• Having to find and use an old IPad to take pictures of snaps because screenshotting = social suicide 
• Being the first and primary line of communication between two people even though it only serves to foster shallow, fleeting relationships (i.e. the talking stage)
• Stalking someone’s snapscore (firstly, stalkerish) or snap maps (secondly, stalkerish) to determine whether or not they are curving you
• Switching chats from “delete after viewing” to “delete after 24 hours” … so awk

Long story short, social etiquette is a B and Snapchat’s handbook tops the list for most infuriating. Also, I may be a bit biased. But I know I’m not alone in my grievances. Yet you, me, and that guy (or girl) you are talking to still use it religiously. Why?

Here’s my theory: fueled by the overgrowth of technology in everyday life, Gen-Z favors an noncommittal communication style, promoting flaky connections and ultimately, dissatisfaction with our personal relationships. It’s a well-established fact that as the first generation to grow up with mobile devices, accessible internet, yadayadayada … I know you’ve heard this schpiel before. We text our friends instead of seeing them in-person. We’re on our phones more than our parents, grandparents, and cheugy older cousins (millennials, I’m looking at you) combined. As much as it pains me to say it, they have a point. When we choose digitally encrypted messages over live conversations, empty face snaps to meaningful words, and complicated rules about when to snap and how to snap about what to snap to whom, we are demonstrating our preferences. Say hello to the self-fulfilling prophecy. Not to say that body language and vocal inflections don’t play a role in miscommunication, but the likelihood of misconstruing meaning or intention increases when connecting on app. The very nature of Snapchat is conducive to ignoring people, missing context, and forming fake friendships … all while being a massive time suck. 

Why not Instagram, IMessage, or Houseparty (RIP 2016-2021)? You can still connect with the people you care about, without having to worry about a disappearing message or accidental slip of the finger. It’s all of the fun and none of the problems. Unless drama is why we love to hate Snap (#hypocrisyhour). Whether its the chase, the validation, or the no-strings-attached attitude, we – the socially distant generation – are hooked on this platform. Maybe one day we’ll grow up and realize that mass messaging an S on a black screen to 500 people or unadding and re-adding our friends (so we can earn the yellow heart with our latest love interest) is pointless. That or our bitmojis in 10 years will be rocking pixie cuts and goatees. There’s like, no in-between.

Either way, let’s realize how we ended up here in the first place (noncommittal communication issues), and maybe, possibly do something about it? Or not, that’s cool too haha!!!!!!!!!!

P.S. While we’re on the subject, amos @eshanivragam 😉 

Harrison, Sara. “Teen Love for Snapchat Is Keeping Snap Afloat.” Wired, Conde Nast, 23 July 2019, www.wired.com/story/teen-love-snapchat-keeping-snap-afloat/.