Snapchat Saves Tired Thumbs
It may not come as too much of a shock for some, though. At this year’s Code Conference, CEO Evan Spiegel hinted at such a move when he asserted that the press-and-hold function was ‘holding us back’.
Gone are the days of users tediously holding down a button to view fleeting content from their friends. Welcome to the age of Snapchat tap and view, where a one-time touch enables you to view content from fellow users instantly, and gives your thumbs a much-needed rest.
Snapchat have admitted on their blog that the new tap mechanic may mean an adjustment for some of their 100 million daily active users, but they hope that the pros of the new system will shine through, in bright yellow presumably.
Not only will users have a more effortless viewing experience, but, crucially, this move opens up the app’s potential for longer video content, amongst other things. While the update is certainly promising for Team Snapchat, have they possibly overlooked the bigger picture of what might be lost in their pursuit for easy tapping?
Since Mark Zuckerberg introduced auto-play for Facebook content, social media users have grown accustomed to videos playing automatically as they scroll through their newsfeed. This was an effort to increase video plays and user engagement, but the reality of which is that, after a 2-3 window in which we consider our interest level, most content is rejected and we keep scrolling straight past. That was what set Snapchat apart. By utilising their press-and-hold function, Snapchat could ensure that users stayed engaged for the entirety of their content, as previously it would vanish if you took your thumb away, never to be seen again.
Now, Snapchat have also rendered the screenshot-block redundant, as thumbs need only tap to view content, they are then free to indulge in as many screen shots as they’d like. No doubt some may enjoy this revolutionary move, but it somewhat undermines Snapchat’s original concept, which prioritised privacy and intimacy between contacts.
The update comes with other new features too, such as Add Nearby, an addition which allows users hanging out with friends to add each other with a simple tap. They’ve also upgraded SnapCode, allowing snappers to centralise a selfie so that they are more instantly recognisable to their contacts.
The reality of this update is that the majority of users will acclimatise to the app’s new functions and continue to use the Snapchat world to share videos and stories with friends. Here’s hoping they haven’t lost some of the magic of their innovative model in the process.
By Kadie Regan