Yolo was a third-party app that allowed people to anonymously send messages and questions to others on Snapchat. It was hugely popular for a time, but Snapchat eventually cut off access to third-party apps like Yolo. So does Yolo still work on Snapchat in 2023? The short answer is no, Yolo no longer works on Snapchat.
What was Yolo and how did it work with Snapchat?
Yolo was launched in 2019 and quickly grew in popularity, especially among teens and young adults. It worked by linking to a user’s Snapchat account. People could then anonymously submit questions and messages to that person through Yolo, and the questions would show up overlaid as stickers on the person’s Snapchat story. The recipient could share the questions and answers publicly or keep them private.
The anonymity aspect made it popular, as people could ask potentially embarrassing or sensitive questions without any name attached. For the recipient, it became a way to engage followers and build intrigue around their Snapchat stories. At its peak in 2019 and 2020, Yolo was one of the top apps in the App Store.
What made Yolo popular?
There were a few key factors that drove Yolo’s popularity:
- Anonymity – Anyone could ask a question anonymously, leading to unfiltered and potentially risque questions.
- Integration with Snapchat – It leveraged the existing Snapchat user base and allowed questions within Snapchat stories.
- Engagement – It gave Snapchat users a new way to engage their audience and build followers.
- Buzz factor – The anonymity and types of questions asked created a lot of buzz, especially among younger demographics.
For a time in 2019-2020, it was a hugely popular way for Snapchat users to engage with followers and create entertaining content. However, its popularity was relatively short-lived.
Why doesn’t Yolo work on Snapchat anymore?
In July 2020, Snapchat cut off access to third-party apps like Yolo. This effectively broke the integration that allowed Yolo to work.
There were a few reasons why Snapchat restricted access:
- User safety – Anonymous messaging could enable bullying, harassment, or worse.
- Data privacy – Third parties could collect Snapchat user data.
- Business priorities – Snapchat wanted to control the user experience and monetization.
Without API access to Snapchat, Yolo had no way to overlay questions or messages over Snapchat stories. While Yolo still exists as a standalone app, the Snapchat integration that made it popular is gone.
Can I get Yolo on Snapchat now?
No, there is no way to get Yolo or any similar third-party anonymous messaging apps to work directly with Snapchat anymore. Any apps offering this type of integration are likely scams or fake.
Snapchat is unlikely to restore access or partner with Yolo officially any time soon due to the concerns around user privacy and safety. The anonymous messaging craze has also died down significantly since 2020.
What are some alternatives to Yolo for Snapchat?
While you can no longer use Yolo or apps like it directly with Snapchat, there are some alternatives if you want to allow anonymous questions or messages from Snapchat followers:
Polls and Question Stickers
Snapchat has built-in stickers that allow you to ask questions and get feedback from friends and followers. While not fully anonymous, they allow you to interact without revealing who responded.
Google Forms
You can share a Google Forms link to allow anonymous submissions. You can then post screenshots of questions and answers to your Snapchat story.
Sherpashare
This app allows Snapchat users to share anonymous confessions and posts with their followers. The anonymous posts can then be shared on Snapchat. However, full names are still visible.
Instagram Threads
You can use the Close Friends feature in Threads to allow anonymous feedback and questions from those close connections.
For broader anonymous discussions and AMAs, you can engage followers on a specific Reddit thread and share screenshots through Snapchat.
The future of anonymous messaging
While Yolo itself is gone from Snapchat, the appeal of anonymous messaging likely remains. Social media users, especially younger demographics, enjoy the unfiltered nature of anonymous apps. However, concerns around bullying and harassment tend to limit adoption:
App | Key Features | What Happened |
---|---|---|
Yolo | Anonymous messaging within Snapchat | Shut down in 2020 due to privacy concerns |
Ask.fm | Anonymous Q&A social network | Fell out of favor due to bullying issues |
Whisper | Share anonymous confessions and messages | Pivoted away from anonymity over bullying concerns |
For any anonymous messaging app to thrive long-term, it needs to foster positive interactions and prevent abuse. Apps like Yolo show the appeal, but also the risks, of anonymity.
Snapchat is taking a hard line, disallowing any third-party integrations. But the desire for anonymity persists, whether through privacy features in mainline apps or new startups. It remains to be seen if any can capture Yolo’s lightning in a bottle without the safety risks.
Conclusion
In summary, Yolo no longer works on Snapchat as of mid-2020 when Snapchat cut off third-party app access. It relied on Snapchat integration to function. There are limited anonymous messaging alternatives available, but true Yolo functionality is gone. Anonymous messaging still holds appeal, but apps need to be careful to prevent abuse and protect user privacy. Snapchat is unlikely to ever restore access to Yolo or similar third-party anonymity apps due to safety and data concerns.