Mobile Social Media
We are living in an era where digital communication has become paramount both in business and personal life. Particularly, mobile social media apps such as Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat have become part and parcel of our daily lives. The applications are used to connect with family and friends, share and receive information, or just as a form of entertainment. In this paper, I will cover my experience with Snapchat and TikTok as social media applications.
Snapchat is one of the latest social media applications that was developed to provide temporary content. I joined Snapchat one after its launch in 2011. When I started using Snapchat, it was meant for person-person sharing of photos. Recently, it has released several updates, and it has released lenses for taking photos. From a user point of view, Snapchat is one of the most exciting mobile social media applications. I use the application to update my friends and family about what I am up to and get to know what they are up to. Since it allows instant communication through my smartphone, it replicates face-to-face communication with its transient quality.
When I started using Snapchat, I only used a few of its features. As I continued to study the application, I have learned how to use most of its features. One of the features that I frequently use in the app is lenses. Lenses are an amusing way to enhance a snap. Particularly, they are fun animations that are placed on top of a selfie. Whenever I am taking a selfie, I press and hold on my face to activate the lenses. Another feature that I regularly use in Snapchat filters. Just like most social media networks, this application allows users to augment their content using filters. To see the filters, you swipe right after taking a picture or creating a video. I find this feature interesting to use since I can add multiple filters to my images by holding a finger on the screen. When I want my snaps to be accessed only in specific locations, I used geofilters. Chat is the most used feature in my Snapchat application. The feature helps me directly connect with my followers, send Bitmoji stickers, send money, start live video calls, and share snaps.
I believe that Snapchat has become one of the most popular social media apps since it helps people to connect with their families, friends, and workmates. Most of my followers are friends, family members, and workmates. During the day, I use Snapchat to follow the office news account to see any developing news in different office departments. After work, I use Snapchat to follow my friends and family members, where we share photos. Snapchat has been my everyday social media app due to its exciting features. On average, I open the app 15 times, which implies that I spend between 20 to 25 minutes on the application.
Recording videos is one of my hobbies, but it becomes even more exciting when I share them on Snapchat. One of the videos that I like most is one I recorded when I was doing some workouts at home. In this one video, I got over 100 followers. Another short-video I liked most is when I opened a gift from a friend who was leaving overseas. I took the video in my bedroom, and the exciting part was that I was anxious to know what was in the gift box. From the video, I got 70 followers. Conclusively, Snapchat is a well-designed application with functional and exciting features.
TikTok
TikTok can be regarded as the destination for mobile videos. I first heard of this application in 2019, in my colleagues’ and friends’ conversations. However, I did not pay much attention. Although I have not started using it, I have seen some of my family members and friends use it. Particularly, I have seen my younger sister use the application to record short videos, and she seems to love the app. According to my friends, TikTok is an excellent application as it helps them to share videos and see other people’s videos. I have also heard them say that with TikTok, you can decide who to follow by checking at people’s profiles using a private account.
Recently, I watched a video of Senator Elizabeth Warren on a “flip the switch” challenge. iThe TikTok uses Drake’s song “Nonstop,” whereby two people dance and abruptly switch outfits and places. It is one of the most exciting videos I have watched on TikTok. The other video I have found interesting in TikTok is on Rihanna’s song imitations. Particularly, I have watched a duo of girls performing Rihanna’s song.
On examining Snapchat and TikTok, I find that they have similar features and audiences, but their value contributions are quite different. While TikTok is a video sharing application for short videos set to music, Snapchat is a video, and photo-sharing application focused on temporary content. However, I must assert that the two platforms provide a special wat to connect to the followers. Although I have not tried using TikTok, I think I will use it in the future. Since I love making videos, I believe this application will be of great help. Since the introduction of TikTok, there have been mixed reactions. Some people do not seem to embrace, while others believe in its huge potential. I believe that the success of the appl is driven by the fact that it is in the right inclination.
In summary, mobile social media applications have become the norm of the day. The past few years have seen the development of numerous applications that have changed almost every aspect of people’s lives. Snapchat and TikTok are examples of the latest application that have transformed people’s lifestyles. The applications have exciting features that draw the attention of users, making them spend a significant amount of time around them.