Snapchat features and terminology
Each social network seems to have its own language. Let’s take a look at the key Snapchat terminology you need to know to understand how to use Snapchat for business.
Snap: A Snap is a picture or video you send through the app to one or more of your friends. A video snap can be a maximum of 10 seconds long. Snaps are deleted once they’ve been viewed by all recipients, unless you add them to your Story, in which case they disappear after 24 hours. Unopened Snaps are deleted after 30 days.
Stories: The Stories section of Snapchat showcases photos and videos that you’d like to share with all your Snapchat friends.
Custom Stories: Custom Stories allow groups to create Stories together. You can choose to create a Group Story, which allows specific people to contribute Snaps, or a Geofenced Story, which allows your friends—and friends of friends—to contribute Snaps to a story as long as they are at a specific place.
Snapstreak: If you and a friend Snap each other within 24 hours for three consecutive days, you’re on a Snapstreak. You’ll see a flame emoji next to your friend’s name, with a number indicating how many days you’ve kept the streak going for. Note that chats do not count toward Snapstreaks.
Filter: A Snapchat filter is a fun way to jazz up your Snaps by adding an overlay or other special effects. Filters can change based on special events or holidays, location, or time of day.
Snapchat lens: Snapchat lenses allow you to add animated special effects to your photos or videos. Unlike filters, you use lenses while you are taking a Snap.
Geofilter: These are filters unique to your current location. To enable Geofilters, you have to turn on your location in Snapchat. You can also create your own custom Geofilter for as little as $5.99—great for building brand awareness or showcasing an event.
Snapcode: Snapcodes are unique QR-style codes you can scan to add friends or access features and content on Snapchat. Each user is automatically assigned an account Snapcode, and you can create additional Snapcodes that link to any website.
Chat: Snapchat’s version of instant messenger for individual and group chats. Messages disappear after they are viewed.
Memories: Memories is a camera roll feature that backs up your Snaps and Stories. You can choose to post older Snaps to your Story from Memories.
Friends page: Swipe right from the camera screen to find this page, which lists “the friends you want to talk to, when you want to talk to them,” based on Snapchat’s algorithm. You’ll find all of your friends’ Chats and Stories here.
Discover page: Swipe left from the camera to find this page, which displays Stories from publishers and other creators, including those you have subscribed to and those you might be interested in based on the Snapchat algorithm.
Snap Map: The Snap Map shows your location and the locations of all of your friends, so you can see what’s happening right now, right where you are. To access the Snap Map, pinch in on your screen. If you don’t want to share your location, you can always put yourself in ghost mode.
Context Cards: Context Cards use information from Snapchat’s partners, like Tripadvisor and Foursquare, to provide additional information about a place mentioned in a Snap, or allow you to take actions like booking a ride or reserving a table for dinner. You can access Context Cards by swiping up on a Snap or Story.
Bitmoji: A Bitmoji is a cartoon icon that represents you. Since Snapchat bought the Bitmoji app, it has been implementing Bitmoji throughout the network, including in Snapcodes (which formerly featured real photos known as Snapcode selfies).
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