Snapchat is a free social networking application for Android and iOS that has the differential of its lenses and filters, capable of transforming users' faces. Some of the most famous are the puppy that sticks out its tongue and the one that turns the person into his baby version.
If you still don't know Snapchat and want to know more about it and how to use it, check out this guide that prepared for those who are just starting out!
What is Snapchat and how does it work?
Snapchat was launched in 2022 as a messenger for iPhone, which was intended to exchange messages and images that self-destruct after a certain period of time. The following year, the program reached Android devices and, in 2022, it launched Stories.
The posts consisted of photos or videos of up to 10 seconds that were only on air for 24 hours. In 2022, lenses arrived to make posts even more fun. The app became a fever, especially among younger people.
Currently, Snapchat no longer limits the times of videos posted and offers a number of editing tools such as typing, adding stickers and creating your own stickers. It is also possible to include filters, make drawings by hand, among other options.
The chat remains active on the platform and maintains the self-destruction of messages and photos after being read as a differential. You can also follow well-known and famous people to follow their posts and explore third-party publications around the world through the Snap Map.
Rivalry with Facebook
There are indications that this possible rivalry started in 2022, when the app's owners refused Facebook's offer of US$ 3 million (more than R$ 12 million). The company sought to pursue an audience it had not yet conquered: teenagers.
In addition, young adults were also increasingly using the app. Then, in 2022, Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook, announced the purchase of the MSQRD app. The program created filters similar to those present in snaps.
Those who are active on social networks could notice that, from 2022, Facebook started to add the Stories feature in a series of apps that belong to the company. Among them are Facebook itself, Instagram, Messenger and WhatsApp.
Soon, the comparisons and insinuations began that the company was copying the functionality created by Snapchat. The filters used technology acquired with the acquisition of the MSQRD.
The action seems to have worked, since in 2022, more than 500 million Instagram, Facebook (and Messenger) and WhatsApp accounts used Stories daily, in each app. On Snapchat, that number is “only” 190 million.
How to create a Snapchat account and add friends
To use Snapchat, you must first download the app in its Android or iOS version. The program is free on both platforms.
Once installed, the user must open the app and tap Create an account. Then you need to enter your first and last name and go to the item in Create account and accept. As you must be over 13 years of age to use the program, enter your date of birth and then press Continue.
The program will suggest a username. To change, tap on change my username and type the one you want. If available, go back to Continue.
Now, set a password and then enter your email and mobile phone number. An access code will be sent to your cell phone. Enter the number you received and that's it, just start using Snapchat.
How to add friends on Snapchat
You can add friends on Snapchat in a few ways. When creating the account, the app suggests synchronization with your cell phone contacts, which immediately makes the friend request to everyone in your phone book that uses the program.
This can include people you are not so close to and work members with whom you may not want to share some games.
When entering the application, the user is faced, on the home screen, with an icon of a little doll with a plus symbol. Tapping on it takes you to the Add friends section. Enter the name or username of the person looking for.
The person can also send their snapcode, a kind of individual QR Code that gives access to each user profile. In this case, just go to the square icon with the little ghost located inside the search bar. Then tap on the Snapcode image and the contact will be added.
How to use Snapchat filters
One of the main attractions of Snapchat is its filters with incredible effects. In addition to changing their appearance, they can also change their voice. To use them, just open the program and tap on the smiley face icon, which is next to the central button.
When you drag your finger from right to left, the available options are displayed. Tap on the one you want to apply, either through the rear or front camera.
If you want to take a photo, just tap the filter button again. If you prefer a video, press the button and hold until recording is complete. Note that, soon after, a series of options will appear in the right corner. They let you make edits to snaps.
In addition, dragging your finger from the right to the left of the screen displays filters that can be overlaid on the captured content. For videos, there is also the feature to speed up or slow down the voice and put the audio backwards.
How to publish or share Snaps
To post the photo or video on Snapchat itself, tap on the blue arrow at the bottom right of the screen. If you want everyone to see it, go to My story. If you choose that all Snapchat users also have access to the content, if they search by your geographic zone, choose Our story.
But if you prefer to share with one or a few specific contacts, tap on their names in the list. Regardless of your choice, confirm it on the blue arrow, located at the bottom of the screen.
If you don't want to share the result with anyone or prefer to publish it on other social networks, you can save it to your phone's gallery. To do this, tap on the down arrow icon in the lower left corner.
They will also be stored in the section Memoirs. The folder can be accessed through the two-picture icon, located below the main circle on the app's homepage.
Baby filter (or any other) not showing up on Snapchat? See how to find
After the baby filter went viral, not only on Snapchat but also on other social networks, many people re-downloaded the app to use the effect on their photos and videos.
But what was not lacking was disappointment, as the lens was not available to all users. If that's the case for you, don't worry, you won't be left out of the latest trends.
Just open the app and, on the home screen, drag the screen from right to left to access the section DISCOVER. It displays the Stories of friends and people the user follows, in addition to suggestions made from the app itself.
Find someone from among these options who has made a video with the baby filter or someone who wants to use it but doesn't have it yet. At the bottom of the screen, the option Try Lens.
Then, as the program suggests, tap to unlock the effect. Immediately, the feature will be available among other Snapchat filters. Then just use it like any other lens, as explained above.
Snapchat chat: messages that self-destruct
In its first version, Snapchat was just a chat app with ephemeral messages, that is, messages that went out after a while. The feature continues to this day. After the user reads the received message, it disappears.
With the photos and videos exchanged through the chat, it is possible to have a second chance. The image stays on the air for a few seconds and closes. To see it for the second time, just hold the message that appears on the screen.
After that, the record is kept only in the user's head, as it can no longer be displayed. The person can even try to save the content by taking a screenshot, but the sender will know that this was done.
Snapchat chat supports text chats and voice and video calls with up to 15 participants. During the chat, lenses can be used to make the conversation even more fun.
What does the little fire and other icons on Snapchat mean
Next to the name of some of your contacts, icons such as a fire, hearts or a face with glasses are displayed. are the so-called Friend Emojis and change according to your interaction with other users.
Understand what they mean:
- Fire 🔥: indicates people you talk to every day. If you go almost 24 hours without exchanging messages, an hourglass appears (⌛️), which indicates that the fire between you is going out.
- Yellow heart 💛: best friends
- Red heart ❤️: best friends for at least two weeks.
- Two hearts 💕: the two have been best friends for two months.
- Tense smile 😬: you and this person have a best friend in common;
- Smile with eyes closed 😊: great friend, but not the best.
- Sunglasses Face 😎: You and this person share a great friend;
- Cake 🎂: it's that person's birthday.
Bitmoji: what is this?
It's your personalized avatar inside Snapchat. To create one, it is necessary to download the Bitmoji app for Android and iOS and define all its characteristics in the character.
Once created, log into Snapchat and tap the profile icon at the top left of the home screen. Among the options that appear, go to Add Bitmoji and follow the instructions in the app.
Emoji can be used both in profile picture and sticker in photos and videos and in chats with friends. The options for figurines are many (really!) and the characters tend to look very similar to their owners.
