4 Reasons Why Snapchat Continues to be Relevant

When you think of the biggest social media platforms, there are probably 5 or 6 that come to mind before Snapchat. It just doesn’t have the same number of users, and let’s be honest – it’s not the most versatile of applications.

But Snapchat has carved out its audience that is unique from that of other social media platforms, and that has been the key to Snapchat’s sustained success.

Where Snapchat differs from other forms of social media is that its users are extremely loyal – and at the very least, devoted. In fact, Snapchat users spend a surprisingly low amount of time browsing through other social media apps on a daily basis. This is something that even the biggest social media platforms can’t claim.

So, while Snapchat can’t compete with the enormous audiences of Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram, it certainly gets the most out of the audience it does have. And that is what has allowed it to stay afloat at a time when the level of competition is so high.

Let’s take a look at 4 of the main reasons why Snapchat continues to remain relevant, and how it has been able to build such an exclusive audience that other platforms aren’t able to access.

‍

1. A Mobile-Only Interface

Facebook. YouTube. Instagram. Twitter. Just about every major social media platform has created interfaces for a variety of different devices. It’s what the developers assume the users want. And they’re not wrong! Want to browse through your news feed on your phone? Check. Want to use your account on your desktop computer? Check.

But meanwhile, Snapchat hasn’t bought into the hype. The application is only available on mobile devices, and Snapchat hasn’t budged on that position. This factor has only added to the exclusivity of the application.

In a world that is only shifting away from desktop computers and closer to mobile phones and tablets, Snapchat has accurately anticipated the need to focus all of its efforts on its mobile application.

‍

2. A Visual-Centric Interface

Snapchat has not relented on keeping pictures as the central form of communication within the main feature of the app. In general, Snapchat users don’t want to write or type. They would much rather communicate visually, and the application has provided enough tools for users to do just that.

‍

3. User Privacy

Snapchat has always been big on user privacy and in more than one way.

First, the application doesn’t feature user profiles. On Facebook, you can search for a user’s name, find them, and check out their personal information, interests, and recent activity. And this isn’t uncommon for major social networks. Twitter and Instagram have similar offerings when it comes to user profiles.

Snapchat, however, has no user profile feature because the application has no permanent content. What makes Snapchat different from other apps is that all content is ephemeral – meaning that everything disappears after a certain amount of time (in Snapchat’s case, 24 hours after posting a story).

Similarly, Snapchat has no means by which one can search for a user’s personal data. Again, all content is ephemeral; so once an image expires, it is no longer accessible.

‍

4. Next Generation

Snapchat has never shied away from identifying the audience that it is targeting. Throughout the application’s various stages of development, all changes have been made with the next generation in mind; and this practice has certainly paid off.

While other applications are concerned with accommodating a broader age range, Snapchat has no desire to be as inclusive. From its mobile-only application to its investment in augmented reality (AR) features, it’s clear that Snapchat is currently focused on engaging members of generation Z.

This generation has grown up, phones-in-hand, and these users are now the biggest targets for any social media platform. Snapchat won’t waste its time with outliers. Every time the application evolves, it does so to appease this next generation. So far, so good.

These four factors continue to keep Snapchat relevant, even without a major audience to compare with the other big names in social media.

In a social-media-obsessed world where competition is cutthroat, Snapchat holds its own. In fact, it does more than that – it thrives. By focusing on a specific group of users and doing everything possible to create an exclusive digital network for its audience, Snapchat reminds us that it’s not going anywhere – not anytime soon, at least.