Snapchat is an app that allows you to exchange photos with your friends, but those photos only last for a maximum of 10 seconds. You can draw on the photo with a paint tool, you can add text, or you can put the photo through a series of filters. The other person can always take a screenshot of your photo, but because of the time constraint, it’s a little difficult. It was developed by Evan Spiegel and Robert Murphy and was launched in July of 2011.

Those of you who are ill Snapchat feens like myself are probably familiar with the recent update to the interface and services offered. In addition to the aforementioned features, Snapchat now offers a built-in text messaging function, as well as a video call function. According to an article posted on The Verge, “[Spiegel and co.’s] hope is to make video chats feel serendipitous, like a fleeting encounter on a street corner instead of a Skype call planned days in advance.” (http://www.theverge.com/2014/5/1/5670260/real-talk-the-new-snapchat-makes-texting-fun-again-video-calls, accessed 5/15/14) That same article goes on to praise the update, but I happen to feel differently.

Personally, I think the developers over at Snapchat are trying way too hard. The update was really unnecessary, and I do not foresee myself ever using either the messaging or the video call. It’s a mobile app–I can just as easily text my friends. I’m also skeptical of the reasoning behind adding the video call function. It’s supposed to have some sort of metaphorical resonance, but I don’t get it. Maybe it’s just me?

Instead of putting time and energy towards ridiculous updates, perhaps Snapchat ought to actually address the security breach that compromised 4.6 million users back in January. According to an article posted on digitaltrends.com, the whole issue then was that hackers leaked the usernames and phone numbers of those Snapchatters. To compensate, Snapchat released an update that allowed users to keep their phone numbers private from there on in, but that’s really not enough. Clearly, their team of developers needs to focus on making more changes to the infrastructure for security purposes. (http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/snapchat-apologiozes-for-security-breach-and-rolls-out-fix/#!NIJFf, accessed 5/15/14)