I think it's far more likely that Snapchat is a very shallow experience. It's common sense that adults wouldn't be the target market. Adults generally prefer richer interactions.
I think you may be unfamiliar with Snapchat because Snapchat has some of the richest of interactions of any messaging or social network. You're literally communicating to your friends with videos and photos. The only thing that could be better than that is being in person. For some users, they're sending Snaps to dozens of friends every day, that they wouldn't otherwise talk to.
It makes texting/email/fb feel so boring and almost formal. I feel comfortable Snapping my friend I haven't talked to in a couple months something random, whereas I would be less likely to hit them up randomly on text.
Stories, the Snapchat broadcast medium, also let you feel more connected with your friends and loose connections. I don't need to talk to some friends every day, but it feels nice that I can share these silly, mundane experiences with them.
This is a much richer experience than browsing my friends' highly curated photos on their Instagram, their boring/activist/humblebrag FB statuses, or their pure text tweets.
Thank you; this is the comment I was looking for. Someone who uses and appreciates Snapchat and can explain to an outsider what the value is. Am I wrong in saying that you like that it feels more authentic?
I think you are going to need to define what you mean by "richer experience" there.
There are plenty of examples of how younger people develop their own complex (rich) social norms and behaviors which confuse the fuck out of "olds".
The (now outdated) behavior of "deleting" (ie deactivating) your Facebook account every night and reactivating every morning (so you couldn't get tagged and embarrassed) is a great example that confused most older people.
Maybe I should caveat with "richer social interactions". I also did not claim that users of snap chat were not intelligent or did not enjoy rich experiences. Simply that those who use snap chat enjoy the shallowness of it.
Here is an interesting article that was posted on HN -
Well, it's an argument. I certainly don't know to call it good, and it doesn't match my experiences in any way. Perhaps you have access to a hidden cache of deep teens that I, as an old, wouldn't understand.
To me "richer" implies more complex, with more subtle features - not "deeper" in any intellectual sense.
As an older person, I really find it difficult to care if a particular friend didn't like an Instagram pic I posted. I really don't care how quickly they liked it and I don't even know which of my Facebook friends don't follow me on Instagram. They are all social interactions that add complexity and richness to the experience, and I don't pay attention to any of them.
To me richer means conversations and experiences. I love a good discussion about technology, politics, brewing, and many other subjects. Or just about life in general.
I also like experiences such as a good hike, bike, camping trip, eating out, etc...
Sending a friend a pic or even interacting on facebook doesn't really do much to further the friendship.
> Are you seriously doubting the premise that people mature as they get older?
I do. Biologically? Maybe. Mentally? I doubt it a lot. I know lots of people of all ages who use Facebook for the most vapid, shallow, and empty experiences. Socially or not.
It makes texting/email/fb feel so boring and almost formal. I feel comfortable Snapping my friend I haven't talked to in a couple months something random, whereas I would be less likely to hit them up randomly on text.
Stories, the Snapchat broadcast medium, also let you feel more connected with your friends and loose connections. I don't need to talk to some friends every day, but it feels nice that I can share these silly, mundane experiences with them.
This is a much richer experience than browsing my friends' highly curated photos on their Instagram, their boring/activist/humblebrag FB statuses, or their pure text tweets.