Early last week, in the middle of the night, Snapchat updated its mobile app. This lead to an outcry from Snapchat users regarding the completely reworked system. So what happened?
Starting a Strike
This social behemoth currently finds itself under fire from about 83% of their users.
Snapchat users have started boycotts, referring friends to message them on Instagram or other media platforms. Some didn’t even entertain the idea of learning how to work with the new system; they just deleted the app. Others go on once in a while just to keep their streaks alive.
The app’s update has incurred so much disdain that a petition against it has reached over a million signatures (and counting).
What Makes the Update So Bad?
Despite its status as an essential social media application, Snapchat has become a joke. But why? What makes this update so bad? Is there any way to reverse the vile update?
No Space for Snapchat “Stories”
The most significant change is probably the ease of use regarding stories. Snapchat has completely removed the story page and brought back auto-advance for stories created by users.
It’s Designed for More Ads
Another issue users have with the newest update is the app’s confusing architecture.
Snapchat has tried to separate its “social” and “media” aspects by dividing it into two separate windows, and the influx of advertisements where “stories” used to live has dramatically hindered user’s ability to understand how to work the new system.
A New User Experience
Other complaints involve the overall design of the app. With the removal of the story page, it seems they tried to cram all the features on the former “stories” window on to the leftover windows. An app that most users have been comfortable in using for years has seemingly become a different app in a matter of moments.
Should You Revert to Old Snapchat?
Some individuals have managed to find a workaround by reversing the update. However, this comes with a wide array of problems, which could make the tradeoff one-sided.
Side effects of reversing the Snapchat update effects could include the loss of saved memories and contacts. Most importantly, the reversal of the update could become a security risk to you and your account. As a result, the National Cyber Security Center (NCSC, in the United Kingdom) recommends enabling the automatic app updates.
McAfee Chief Scientist Raj Samani stated that enabling automatic updates “helps to protect the device from criminal looking to use weaknesses in software and apps to attack your devices and steal your identity.”
Snapchat’s Response
When met with user complaints, Snapchat told users:
“Sorry you feel that way. Give it a chance – it may take some getting used to, but we think it’s a much better experience … An update as big as this one can take a little getting used to, but we hope you’ll enjoy it once you settle in.”
It’s clear that there are no plans to revert to the old format. Only time will tell if users willing to adapt to the new changes or if Snapchat will eventually fade away.
What do you think: Do you love or hate the new Snapchat update? Are you trying to adjust to the new Snapchat? Or have you already abandoned ship to Instagram stories? Let us know in the comments below!
