Snapchat used to be a fun way to send photos to your friends without the regular pressure of social media, but for many teens today, it has slowly turned into a dating app.
While platforms like Tinder, Bumble and Hinge dominate the realm of dating apps, Snapchat is where many younger users are forming these connections.
Unlike other social media where posts, likes and comments can be seen by other users, Snapchat offers a one-on-one interaction between you and the person you’re interested in. This makes users feel safer about testing the waters with a crush.
In 2020, users between the ages of 15-25 made up 48% of Snapchat’s total users. This year, a similar age range, 13-24, made up 57.2% of the demographic. I found this interesting because when I was in high school, none of my relatives under the age of 15 were even allowed to have Snapchat. Now, I have cousins as young as 12 years old on the app.
My younger sister and her friends all rely on Snapchat to keep their relationships alive. I have overheard them talking about how long ago their partner was active, where the Snap Map said they were last or even how their partner’s Snap Score had gone up since they last snapped.
For teens, Snapchat’s appeal lies in its casual atmosphere. Unlike traditional dating apps, you don’t have to decide what pictures or blurbs to include on your profile to make an impression. Instead, you can send a random snap whenever you feel like it. I remember when I was on dating apps, and 99% of the time, the first thing someone would ask me was, “What’s your Snap?”
When my now boyfriend and I first started seeing each other, we communicated only through Snapchat. He didn’t even have my phone number until after we were officially dating. I remember thinking how odd it was. We were both adults, so why were we only Snapping? It just seemed to be the way that everyone else did it, so we followed along.
Snapchat wasn’t built for dating, so how did we get here? There is no algorithm to match you with others like other dating apps, but that’s where the appeal lies. It’s become a space where many teens and young adults begin their first digital flirtations. Maybe that’s why it’s so popular among younger users. It feels more relaxed and less like a commitment than apps designed solely for dating.
This approach can also make things more complicated than it needs to be. There isn’t much rhyme or reason to most Snaps. This leaves users confused about the meaning behind a single Snap. Was that picture meant to be flirtatious or was it something they sent to their whole friends list? The number of times I’ve been shown a Snap by a friend and asked “What do you think this means?” or “What should I Snap him back?” is too many to count.
Ghosting is another common reality when using Snapchat this way. One day, you’re Snapping back and forth, and the next, nothing. The casualty around the app makes it easier to cut all ties. With disappearing chats and pictures, connections can end just as fast as they began.
Snapchat’s transformation into a dating pool is just a reflection of how the younger generation wants to connect. They want it to be on their terms without any outside pressures that traditional dating apps may cause. With how chronically online today’s teens are, it makes sense to me.
As someone who used both Snapchat and traditional dating apps, I get it. Using a platform that has no pressure to connect with someone makes it feel like a low-risk, high-reward situation. It’s become a place where flirting can be as simple as sending a selfie.
