Snapchat: It’s a thing.

Posted on March 26, 2015 by Danielle Faber

I consider myself a modern Millennial. I’m open to new things, I’m a big fan of sharing my personal life on social media, and I don’t give a shit about my privacy – those are the keys to the Millennial club, aren’t they? MySpace was my first foray into social media and I haven’t turned back. I’ve been an active member of Facebook since 2005, on Twitter since 2009, and Instagram since the moment I heard about it, which, by the way, was 163 weeks ago. Pinterest, Tumblr, Yelp, and LinkedIn have also been part of the ride but can definitely be considered side-chicks outside of my main rotation. So there’s my roster. I didn’t think I wanted any more, or could fit any more quite frankly, but recently I’ve made room for an addition. Snapchat.

You may think I’m behind the times on this one, and you would be absolutely right. I downloaded Snapchat when it was released only to find myself bored and unwilling to use it. The youngins around me (anyone under the age of 24) were having a party on this thing and I didn’t even want to be a part of it. I felt confident in my decision to forego the Snapchat world, calling it a generational gap (I only have 3 years on these people, but that’s a lifetime in social media years). I was too mature for this party and anyways, I was having my own grown-up shindig on Instagram…so I thought.

A couple months ago, Snapchat released the Discover page and something clicked for me. Snapchat created a world that I really did want to be a part of. The media their clients are creating on the platform, clients like MTV, CNN, Bleacher Report, and Vice among others, is engaging and informative. When I saw it I was so impressed by the way they adapted their platform for publications that I finally wanted to be a part of the party.

I re-established my presence and dove right into the wonderful world of Snapchat, but not just the Discover page. I’ve found a place for the traditional Snapchat features in my social media rotation and I’m sticking to it. I love the informality of it all. Snapchatters aren’t worried about filters and composition. Send me your unfiltered, no make-up selfies. Your late-night eats and hungover breakfasts. Don’t worry about likes, shares, and retweets – no one knows or cares! It’s a freedom unheard of in the social media community, which is constantly accused of being narcissistic and shallow. This is a way to be yourself around your friends, even if your friends aren’t sharing your couch. It’s like a daily trip back my university dorm – minus the dirty dishes and lack of laundry.

Are you over 25 and a fan of Snapchat? You’re not alone! Add me (DFabes36) and see what my breakfast may look like on any given day.

Danielle is a Digital Marketing Strategist at 88 Creative. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @DFabes.