How to Use Snapchat: The Ultimate Guide for Beginners

Key Takeaways

Discover the features, terminology, and navigation of Snapchat, the popular visual social media platform.
Learn how to create and share Snaps, Stories, and use Lenses and Filters to enhance your content.
Access insider tips and tricks to optimize your Snapchat experience, including workarounds for using it on computers.

Remember the days when photos were physical and letters took days to arrive? Fast forward to today, where we have Snapchat, a platform that lets us share fleeting moments with our loved ones in an instant. With over 293 million daily active users, mostly millennials and Gen-Z, Snapchat has become a cultural phenomenon, and for good reason. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll dive into the world of Snapchat, exploring its features, functionality, and tips to make the most of this visual social media platform.

Snapchat Features and Terminology: A Quick Rundown

Snapchat’s unique features set it apart from other social media platforms. Here’s a breakdown of some key terms:

Snap: A picture or video shared through the app, disappearing after viewing.
Stories: Snaps shared with all Snapchat friends, lasting 24 hours.
Custom Stories: Collaborative Stories created with friends.
Snapstreak: Tracks consecutive days of Snap exchange with a friend.
Filter: Overlays or effects added to Snaps.
Lenses: AR effects applied to Snaps before capturing.
Geofilter: Location-specific filters added to Snaps.
Snapcode: Unique QR-style code for adding friends or accessing features.
Chat: Snapchat’s instant messenger for individual and group chats.
Memories: Saved Snaps and Stories for later viewing.

Navigating Snapchat: A Step-by-Step Guide

Snapchat’s user interface is intuitive, but here’s a quick tour:

Camera Screen: Home screen for taking Snaps, sending messages, and accessing other features.
Chat Screen: Chat with friends, view Snaps, edit friend list, and make calls.
Profile Screen: Access account info, Bitmoji, location, Story management, and more.
Stories Screen: View your Stories, friends’ Stories, and brand Stories in Discover.
Memories Screen: Save Snaps and Stories for later.
Map Screen: See your location, friends’ locations, and change your Bitmoji.
Search Screen: Search Snapchat, add friends, and explore trending content.
Spotlight Screen: Discover and interact with viral videos from across the platform.

Creating Snaps: Express Yourself Visually

Snaps are the heart of Snapchat. Here’s how to create them:

Take a picture or video.
Add creative flair with filters, lenses, and text.
Send your Snap to friends or add it to your Story.

Creating Snapchat Stories: Share Your Day, One Snap at a Time

Stories are a great way to share multiple Snaps with your followers. Here’s how:

Capture Snaps and add them to your Story.
Rearrange or delete Snaps from your Story.
Save your Story for later viewing or sharing.
See who’s viewed your Story.

Using Snapchat Lenses: Unleash Your Creativity

Lenses are Snapchat’s signature AR effects that add a touch of fun to your Snaps. Here’s how to use them:

Point the camera at your face.
Tap on a face icon to access Lenses.
Scroll through Lenses and preview effects.
Capture a picture or video with the desired Lens.

Using Snapchat Filters: Enhance Your Snaps

Filters are overlays that add a unique touch to your Snaps. Here’s how to use them:

Swipe left or right on your Snap to access Filters.
Tap the stack icon to layer multiple Filters.

Using Snapchat on Your Computer: A Workaround

While Snapchat isn’t officially supported on computers, you can use an Android emulator like Bluestacks to run it on your PC or Mac.

Bonus: Snapchat Hacks and Tips

Here are some insider tips to enhance your Snapchat experience:

Use the “Clear All” button to quickly remove all unopened Snaps.
Hold down the Snap button to record hands-free videos.
Add a Bitmoji to your Snaps to personalize them.
Use the Discover section to explore content from brands and creators.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: How do I add friends on Snapchat?

A: You can add friends by scanning their Snapcode, searching their username, or importing contacts from your phone.

Q: Can I save Snaps and Stories permanently?

A: Yes, you can save Snaps and Stories to your Memories for later viewing.

Q: What happens if I screenshot a Snap?

A: The sender will be notified if you screenshot their Snap, unless they’ve enabled “Screenshot Notifications” in their settings.