Do you know Snapchat?

You've probably heard of Snapchat , the quirky little ghost social network that's taking millennials by storm.

Snapchat, contrary to popular belief, has neither just arrived (it was launched in September 2011), nor is it a social network just for teenagers, nor is it a passing fad. On the contrary: it's here to stay, and its global impact is growing . Its success is undeniable, as evidenced by the fact that even Facebook has tried to acquire it.

But... what exactly is Snapchat and how does it work?

It's a service that lets you create and send photos and short videos (up to 10 seconds long) to your contacts . So far, so good.

But what sets Snapchat apart from other social networks is that these files self-destruct shortly after they're posted. The best part is that users can choose how long the file will be available for viewing before it's destroyed. These messages with expiration dates are known as snaps .

The operation is as simple as taking a photo or video, editing it if you want (you can apply filters, add text, or draw a picture), and sending it to one or more friends. The content will only be viewable for a few seconds (between 1 and 10) , although holding down the button can save it.

If the user goes to the My Stories section, the photo or video will be available for 24 hours , which is the maximum lifespan that snaps have.

Chat

As expected in the age of free instant messaging, Snapchat also has a built-in text chat that allows users to communicate instantly with their contacts, in addition to sending images and videos. However, in keeping with the ephemeral philosophy , once you leave the chat screen, the thread of that conversation is lost forever.

And why does it succeed?

What's the key to success on a social network where everything we upload is eventually lost and there's no way to recover it? On the one hand, there's the peace of mind that comes from knowing that content, no matter how bad, won't be circulating online forever . It doesn't matter if the photo you just uploaded isn't perfect, the video you recorded is absurd, or if you don't feel like taking a selfie today. You can upload them to Snapchat without fear of them being immortalized forever. You know that, in a few seconds, they will self-destruct without a trace.

Unlike Instagram or Facebook , where we only upload our best photos, Snapchat has a place for everything: those photos we wouldn't be crazy to share permanently on those other social networks, but which we don't mind sharing temporarily if we can also choose who sees them. These photos may be not very good, too everyday, even weird or downright ugly, but which, in a certain context, can be cute.

Not to mention the curiosity aroused by content that we know is only available for a very short time and that we will never be able to see again.

And you? Have you heard of Snapchat? Are you a user of this social network? What do you think about it?