The Power of the Dog Filter

The Power of the Dog Filter

158 million people use Snapchat every single day and each of these people open the app an average of 18 times per day (Carson, B,. 2017, paragraph 1). Carson also reports that from these users, 2.8 billion ‘snaps’ are turned into ‘snapsterpieces,’ through the use of filters, drawing functions, stickers, bitmojis, and text. The attraction to this mobile app stems from the way the images sent from user to user disappear after a maximum of 10 seconds. It is entirely in the hands of the sender how their friends, family and followers receive these pictures. For more information, visit this guide to the history of this entertaining app: The Snap Generation. This has made snapchat a powerful           This image depicts a "snapcode,"     outlet, not only for regular people, but for celebrities and                              which is a means for users to       personalities on the rise.                                                                                                                  identify each other.

In this day in age, young people and celebrities use social media as a way to gain notice and popularity, often not just of their social parameters but also of the world. Particularly in younger generations, the pattern seen is that most people do not just retain one form of social media, eg. Facebook, but retain many profiles eg. also Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter and Tumblr. This increases the chance of “going viral,” a phrase referring to the act of becoming internet famous due to a large popularity and following of your profile or post. The referent power gained from this comes from your followers’ ability to view a filtered, hugely edited version of your life that comes directly from the horses mouth and allows them to gain respect and even jealousy, as well as a desire to follow your posts as a way of keeping up with your successes – and in some cases, particularly your failures. This is what asserts the online social hierarchy. You’re only as popular as you make your social presence appear for you to be.

 

In terms of Snapchat, through the ‘Story’ function, users are encouraged to document videos, snaps and edited pictures that allow their followers to watch over an extended period of 24 hours. For celebrities, this becomes paramount in allowing their fans and followers an insight into their extravagant and luxurious lifestyles. It also becomes a terrific outlet for travellers to document their adventures for friends and family. This is all contributes to the life that people are increasingly creating for themselves online. Through the chain of social networking and the online social hierarchy, people’s online presence is giving them power in a way that the world has       This image depicits the famous      previously not experienced. It is now easier than ever – and           'dog filter,' as shown on Obama.     people are more vulnerable than ever in terms of how much the                                                              public is given the ability to see.

In conclusion, the power given through means of social media is not only to the user but to their followers and this has both positive and negative effects. Its due to the ease and enjoyableness of Snapchat’s functions that allow it to significantly contribute to the way people are viewed in this technological generation.

References

Arnold, E. (1979). Space and Place: The Perspective of Experience . In E. Arnold, Space and Place (p. 7). Edward Arnold.

Carson, B., (2017). Here's everything you need to know about how many people are using Snapchat. Retrieved from: http://www.businessinsider.com/how-many-people-use-snapchat-user-numbers-2017-2/?r=AU&IR=T