Snapstreaks, Half-Swipes & Ghost Mode: How Snapchat Is Changing the Way Teens Communicate
Snapchat is bringing a whole new meaning to the phrase “this message will self-destruct.” Ephemeral messaging apps — where the message disappears after it’s been read — is meant to protect users’ privacy and guard against sensitive information or images being stored on someone else’s phone. And, for better or worse, data shows that it’s the preferred method of communication between teenagers today (text messages are so last year).
My three teenagers can’t believe I spent my own youth having hours-long conversations on a telephone (and even worse, one that was — gasp! — tethered to a wall). My generation picked up the phone when it rang, sometimes even without the benefit of caller ID to tell you what to expect; you were just thrown into a conversation with whoever was on the other end. It could have been your bestie, your grandma, your school principal, or a bill collector wondering why you still hadn’t paid for those “free” Columbia House CDs ( … IYKYK.)
Communication has come a long way since then, and continues to evolve — and our teenagers are evolving right alongside it. And I mean that quite literally: The brain’s ability to change and adapt in response to experiences, known as neuroplasticity, means that the environment and experiences unique to Gen Z (like growing up with digital technology) could influence brain development and function. The first generation born into an internet-connected world, these digital natives’ brains are attuned to intricate and advanced visual imagery. Consequently, the brain region responsible for visual skills is significantly more developed, enhancing the effectiveness of visual learning and communication for this generation. Couple this with the fact that Gen Z’s attention span on social media is about 8 seconds, and it’s no wonder that they prefer visually-based, quick-moving social media apps like Snapchat over all other forms of communication.
“[Snapchat’s] visual and instant nature, living in the moment and then automatically disappearing, appeals to Gen Z’s sense of instant connection and more authentic communication,” Dr. Alexa Chilcutt, Executive Education Faculty at Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, tells SheKnows. “Users don’t feel the added pressure of creating a message that lives on for others to see and judge.”
According to a Pew Research study on teens, social media, and technology, Snapchat moved above Instagram in 2023, with 60 percent of teens saying they use Snapchat and 59 percent using Instagram, compared to 62 percent using Instagram and 59 percent using Snapchat last year, and 52 percent on Instagram and just 41 percent on Snapchat in 2014-2015. And as we talked to our panel of Gen Z boys as part of SheKnows’ ongoing Be a Man series, we found that Snapchat reigned supreme as the teenage panelists’ favorite method of communicating with their friends and was among their most frequently used apps.
The app’s emphasis on visual communication (through photos and videos) aligns nicely with Gen Z’s preference for multimedia content. This visual nature can make conversations more engaging and memorable. “Ephemeral messaging is a more dynamic form of communication and depends largely on the nonverbal communication images provide,” says Dr. Chilcutt. “Traditional forms of messaging, I believe, are seen as more formal and therefore are living primarily in the business space.”
My own 19-year-old confirms this — through an interesting restaurant analogy. “There’s a certain intention that you get from somebody if you give them your number … it automatically feels more professional. But if you want to be friends with that person, add their Snapchat, because it’s like a separate way of doing things. It’s the modernized way,” he said. “To be honest, it’s like the difference between an Olive Garden and a Denny’s. Would you rather go to an Olive Garden at midnight or a Denny’s?” The correct answer: Denny’s — “because that’s where the party is. Snapchat is a little bit more ‘dingy’ … I don’t know how to explain it. It’s just less professional than iMessage, and it seems like it’s made for Gen Z.”
Snapchat also appeals to another aspect of communication prized by Gen Zers: authenticity. The fleeting nature of ephemeral messaging encourages more authentic and spontaneous communication. Users are less likely to overthink their words or edit their messages, leading to more genuine interactions.
And finally, one of the most compelling draws to Snapchat is its perceived sense of privacy — not only through the disappearing messages but through the use of emojis that we oldsters can’t always clearly understand. “Because of its quick and temporary nature, I’ve noticed that Gen Z’s communication tends to be more concise, short-handed, and to the point with more reliance on acronyms, which is in line with the desire for more privacy as these are essentially coded messages for older generations,” Dr. Christine DeVore, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, tells SheKnows.
Criticisms and Concerns
Unfortunately, the very things that make Snapchat appealing to teens are the things that seem, well, downright alarming when you’re a parent. (Common Sense Media has a helpful guide for parents that explains how it works in detail.)
“Your messages delete,” reports 16-year-old Calder. “And you can send pictures of yourself as well … to, like, either people that you know or you don’t know. You can add random people … and kinda see what they’re doing.” One teen we spoke to said Snapchat was “designed for teenagers to text each other and send nudes. Because why else would the photos disappear?”
But though the ephemeral element provides users with confidence that what they’re putting out there isn’t permanent, there are always methods of getting around it. Even the company admits this; on Snapchat’s Apple store app page, it says, “Please note: Snapchatters can always capture or save your messages by taking a screenshot, using a camera, or otherwise. Be mindful of what you Snap!”
The DEA has issued warnings about the ephemeral messaging on Snapchat, among other social media platforms, via their “One Pill Can Kill” campaign. “Drug traffickers advertise on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. These advertisements are in disappearing, 24-hour stories and in posts, which are promptly posted and removed,” the agency says. “Posts and stories are often accompanied by known code words and emojis that are used to market and sell illicit and deadly drugs on social media. These code words and emojis are designed to evade detection by law enforcement and by the preset algorithms used by social media platforms.” (A marijuana dealer might have a leaf or a flame emoji by their username, for example; a cocaine dealer, an 8-ball or snowflake emoji, which look innocuous to those unaware of what they stand for — i.e. their parents, as Dr. DeVore points out.)
Also worth a raised eyebrow is the “Snap Map” feature; it uses a phone’s GPS to show users’ locations on a map in real time. The majority of the teen boys SheKnows spoke to said that at least 100 people could see their location on Snap Map at any given time — and sometimes more: “There’s probably about 250 people that can see my location,” says Griffin, 16. Users can go into “ghost mode” — where they can still see others’ locations, but theirs remains private — which is maybe slightly less worrisome to parents, but can be a source of consternation for teens. In a larger survey of SheKnows’ Teen Council, which consists of both boys and girls, nearly a quarter of respondents said seeing their friends on ghost mode makes them feel “anxious” or “left out.”
“Sometimes I get a little bit of FOMO when I see people together without me,” admits Calder. “Especially if it’s my friends, and it’s a plan I wasn’t invited to. Or, even that I was invited to and I couldn’t go.”
In an article about Snapchat and teen friendships for The Cut, writer, podcaster, and Gen Z trend expert Casey Lewis writes, “[M]uch of its staying power comes from its ability to embed itself into the social fabric of adolescent life. The app effectively gamifies friendship with features like streaks and trophies, boosting user engagement while making itself indispensable to maintaining relationships. Its complex web of social rules can also prove incredibly tricky to navigate.” Users can boost their friend rank by communicating more frequently with someone, an easy way to cause rifts and hurt feelings. “If you’re snapping your best friend more than anyone else, she’ll be your No. 1,” writes Lewis, “But if she’s snapping someone else more than you, you won’t be hers.”
These unspoken social rules govern many parts of Snapchat, but there are ways to get around some of them, like “half-swiping.” Unlike other messaging apps, Snapchat creates a sense of urgency and expectation — when you receive a message, you feel pressure to respond immediately or risk social consequences, because reading someone’s message without replying is seen as a snub. “Snapchat locks the recipient into a situation where they have to either answer the message or leave the person on ‘opened,'” says 15-year-old Clive. “Half-swiping is a workaround and a non-committal way to view a message that has been sent to you without letting the sender know. You can see a message and wait to let the person know you’ve seen the message whenever you want.” It might offer a temporary escape from the social pressure, but it undermines the ability to directly communicate that Snapchat is known for. Still, almost 54% of our Teen Council members reported that they half-swiped “sometimes,” with just under 8% saying they never do.
And, of course, there’s the argument that the way kids communicate on Snapchat is making communication with adults weirdly uncomfortable. “For 11 years, I taught up to 500 undergraduates each semester at The University of Alabama,” says Dr. Chilcutt. “Gen Z’s preference (and, somewhat, dependence) of ephemeral messaging greatly impacted their ability to formulate well-constructed emails and increased their level of anxiety when having to interact face-to-face. It seemed as if the level of anxiety students exhibited in 2021 compared to 2016 tripled.”
Despite reporting overall positive feelings about social media (even though a whopping 77 percent of the teen boys on SheKnows’ Teen Council surveyed said they spend too much time on it), there was still hesitance among some of the teenagers in our panel about being tethered to Snapchat. Being slightly less into the app, or at least some features of it, seemed to be more prevalent among the group’s older teens, a finding backed up by some of the comments we received about “Snapstreaks” — a tally of how many consecutive days users have spent sending Snaps to their friends (and for some users, sort of a badge of honor — or a “flex,” as the kids say these days). “In terms of Snapstreaks, I think the older you get, and the more you use it, the less it becomes something that you care about,” says Xavier, 17.
“I find Snapchat to be a waste of my time,” adds 19-year-old Lincoln. “I really got so sick of sending people just a photo of my face … it’s very important to do and it’s somehow ‘offensive’ when you forget to do it.”
Snapchat, and similar social media apps, are a two-sided coin, Dr. DeVore tells SheKnows. “In my clinical practice, I’ve observed that Gen Z’s use of ephemeral messaging can have both positive and negative impacts. On the positive side, it can foster a sense of connection and belonging, especially for those who may struggle with face-to-face interactions. It can also provide a safe space for self-expression and experimentation,” she says. “However, it’s important to be mindful of potential challenges, such as the pressure to maintain a constant online presence or the risk of cyberbullying. There’s also the risk of reducing face-to-face interaction, which can impact social skills and relationship development.”
As Snapchat continues to evolve and shape the way Gen Z communicates, it’s clear that the app’s ephemeral nature, visual emphasis, and authenticity have struck a chord. While there are valid concerns about privacy and the potential for misuse, Snapchat’s appeal lies in its ability to create a more dynamic and personalized communication experience. It’s like Gen Z’s digital playground, a place to connect, express themselves, and have fun. As parents, understanding and navigating these trends is crucial to ensuring that Gen Z can enjoy the benefits of digital technology — while protecting them from its potential risks.