Context · Social Media
Snapchat looks like a messaging app, but it is built around mechanics that create daily compulsion, from streaks to location sharing to messages that disappear without a record.
Streaks
A streak counter goes up every day two people snap each other, and if they lose it the counter resets to zero, which creates a daily obligation that is not really about communication, it is about keeping the number going.
Disappearing messages
Snaps appear to vanish after viewing, but Snapchat can still store content and screenshots are always possible, so the sense of privacy is a design choice rather than an actual guarantee.
Location sharing
Snap Map shows your child's real-time location to friends, and they may have turned it on without really understanding what it shares or who can see it.