If a Snapchat of a tree falling in a forest is sent and no one screen shots it, did it happen? Well, does a bear shit in the woods? (hopefully no one screen shotted that, nor sent the snap in the first place).
Snapchat, the image messaging, multi-media app was developed in 2011 under the moniker ‘Picaboo’ by Evan Spiegel and Bobby Murphy. The aim was to share images that were explicitly short lived and self-deleting. Unlike other mobile apps that utilise use of the smart phone camera, snapchat (at least before its most recent update) can only send photos generated through the in-app camera to other snap users on your friends list. This allows for capturing a present moment with a greater level of authenticity. It could be argued that snapchat provides the most accurate representation of reality on social media, because of the parameters set by the app. “Snapchat isn’t about capturing the traditional Kodak moment. It’s about communicating with the full range of human emotion — not just what appears to be pretty or perfect.” (Spiegel, E 2012). It embodies authenticity at its vital core and encourages faux pas, the present, raw fidelity, zany behaviour as well as complete autonomy – here are 10 seconds and a camera express how you feel right now. “We’re building a photo app that doesn’t conform to unrealistic notions of beauty or perfection but rather creates a space to be funny, honest or whatever else you might feel like at the moment you take and share a Snap.” (Spiegel, E 2012)
The app probably fosters the most intimate and personal form of communication with other people. It feels closed off, yet simultaneously open. There is no algorithmic hidden agenda used to optimise the experience through ‘snap user suggestions’. It is a blanket interface experience, which is personalised autonomously through the snaps you send and the snaps you receive from the friends you have added. It’s private to the degree that you allow, you get to choose who you send a snap to and can autonomously evaluate the risk on your terms before sending. Because screen shotting requires an adept level of dexterity, individuals can find solace in the fact that a ‘risky’ snap may slip out of the grasp of a screen shot. It also indicates if a screenshot has been successfully made, placing significant social liability on the recipient that can be leveraged – it equals the playing field. However, sometimes certain snaps don’t warrant complete privacy or a cherry picked audience. Snapchat introduced Snap Stories in 2013 as a means to combat the arduous task of selecting each user on your friends list to send more innocuous snaps to. Snap Stories embody the same ephemeral affordances, much like their Snap Chat predecessors, except they last for 24 hours, not just a maximum of 10 seconds. Users can view stories as many times as they like within that 24 hour period. The
One unexpected consequence of creating snap stories is that users inadvertently create a digital narrative experience. Stories possess inherent hierarchy due to the chronological sequence the snap aggregation follows. Because of this, users miraculously can orient themselves within the viewing experience, relying little on exposition to provide contextual understanding. Each snap story benchmarked against the other allows the user to interpret what is happening. Expositional cues are generally provided by the use of captions and emojis to provide context; even the captions have character limitations therefore generating incredibly refined output. To sustain narrative, it does require to some degree a level of rapid prototyping (however this is often done unconsciously due to the expendability of snaps, there is little social liability because you choose your audience therefore creating greater authenticity). Because of the 24 hour window, the only resisting force to the snap story narrative is time. For example, if you want to capture on story a sunrise and sunset, you have to be ready to snap within the window of opportunity, because if left too late you will miss the window.
Snap Stories demonstrate the ability of individuals to tell a story about themselves and have developed into a method of construing the most authentic online identity. Certain snap users have certain characteristics that manifest within their stories. For the purpose of my digital project within BCM240, I would like to create a snap story documentary of snap stories. Whilst utilising the practice of ethnography, I aim to interview and follow certain snap users who are notorious for generating extensive snap stories. The observations I will generate will provide greater insight into the habits and rituals present within this culture. I intend to film the digital narrative using the app itself and leveraging the inherent limitations of this medium as a tool to reflect the medium. The tools within the app such as, geo-tags, filters, face detection, drawing tools, emojis and stickers will be utilised to embody conventional film techniques and work around the film limit on snaps (the app itself will be my editor through cutting film at 10 second intervals).
it’ll be interesting to understand other users approach to their story and if they carry certain intention with each snap. No doubt it’ll be a platform to explore the culture behind it and hopefully remove the stigma association with ‘selfies’ and narcissism.This article here provides comprehensive insight into the apps ethos and its vitality to self-celebration. Anything that encourages embracing an individuals authentic identity should be celebrated. Always remember; dance like no one is watching, and snap like no one is screen shotting.
sillyyaks 