Adding a shortcut to a friend on Snapchat allows you to quickly send Snaps, Chats, or Stories to that friend without having to search for their name each time. Here are the steps to add a shortcut to a friend on Snapchat:
Open your Friends list
To start, open the Snapchat app and tap on the friends icon in the bottom toolbar. This will open up your Friends list showing all your friends on Snapchat.
Tap on the friend you want to add a shortcut for
Scroll through your Friends list and tap on the friend you want to create a shortcut for. This will open up their Snapchat profile.
Tap on the settings icon
At the top right of your friend’s profile, tap on the settings icon (it looks like a gear).
Tap “Add Shortcut”
This will open up a new menu. Tap on the “Add Shortcut” option.
Confirm adding the shortcut
Snapchat will ask you to confirm if you want to add a shortcut for this friend. Tap “Add” to confirm.
Send Snaps quickly using the shortcut
Now when you go to the Camera screen to take a Snap, your friend with a shortcut will show up in the bottom left with their Bitmoji icon. Simply tap on their icon to instantly take a Snap and send it directly to them!
Adding a shortcut makes it much faster to share Snaps with your best friends on Snapchat. It saves you from having to search through your whole Friends list to find them each time. Here are some additional tips for using Snapchat shortcuts:
Edit or remove shortcuts
You can edit or remove any shortcuts you’ve added by going back into that friend’s profile and tapping the settings icon. In there you can manage shortcuts.
Reorder your shortcuts
On the Camera screen, you can long-press on any shortcut icon and drag it to reorder your shortcuts.
Add up to 8 shortcuts
Snapchat lets you have up to 8 friends set as Camera shortcuts at one time. If you try to add more, it will prompt you to remove an existing shortcut.
Shortcuts also appear in Chat
Your Snapchat shortcuts will also show up at the top of your Chat screen, making it easy to quickly message those friends.
Conclusion
Adding Snapchat shortcuts for your closest friends makes it much easier to stay connected with them on Snapchat. Just open their profile, tap the settings icon, choose “Add Shortcut”, and confirm to add them. Their Bitmoji icon will then show up on your Camera and Chat screens for quick access.
Here are some other helpful tips for using Snapchat:
Save data usage
Change your Snapchat settings to only download Snaps when connected to Wi-Fi. This will help reduce mobile data usage.
Use lenses and geofilters
Lenses and geofilters help make your Snaps more fun and visually appealing. Try out new ones whenever you take a Snap.
Create memories
Use Snapchat’s Memories feature to save your favorite Snaps, Stories, and moments in one place. You can also edit old Snaps and re-share them.
Snap Map
The Snap Map lets you share your location with friends and see where they are. Customize your Map privacy settings for control.
Group chats
Start a Group Chat with up to 31 friends to send Snaps, Chats, audio notes, and more together.
About Snapchat
Snapchat is a popular social media app developed by Snap Inc. that lets users send photo and video messages called Snaps. Here are some key facts about Snapchat:
- Launched in 2011
- Headquartered in Santa Monica, California
- Over 280 million daily active users as of Q4 2020
- Core age demographic is 18-34 years old
- Publicly traded on NYSE under ticker symbol SNAP
Some of Snapchat’s key features include:
- Snaps – Photo and video messages that disappear after being viewed
- Stories – Collections of Snaps displayed in chronological order
- Lenses – Augmented reality filters and effects
- Discover – Watch curated Snaps from brands and publishers
- Chat – Send text, video, and audio messages
- Snap Map – See your friends’ locations on a map
- Memories – Save your Snaps and Stories
Snapchat has evolved from a simple photo messaging app into a robust platform for communication and entertainment. The growth of ephemeral messaging and stories has helped drive Snapchat’s popularity with younger demographics. Snapchat continues to expand its capabilities through innovative features like augmented reality lenses and original shows on Discover.
The History of Snapchat
Snapchat has an interesting history, going from a small college side project to a major social media company:
Origins
Snapchat was originally created in 2011 by Stanford University students Evan Spiegel, Bobby Murphy, and Reggie Brown. The three were members of the Kappa Sigma fraternity on campus.
The idea for Snapchat stemmed from conversations about how they wished the photos they sent via text would disappear after being viewed. This sparked the concept of ephemeral messaging.
Initial Launch
The very first version of Snapchat launched in the App Store in July 2011. Users could take photos, add text and drawings, and send them to friends. Snaps would disappear after 1-10 seconds.
By the end of 2012, Snapchat users were sending over 50 million Snaps per day.
Growth and Funding
Snapchat continued to grow rapidly and raised several rounds of venture capital funding. By early 2014, Snapchat users were sending 700 million Snaps per day.
In February 2017, Snap Inc. went public in a highly anticipated IPO at a valuation of over $24 billion.
Recent Developments
Snapchat has added many new features over the years like Stories, Discover, Lenses, Filters, Friend Emojis, and more. It has faced intense competition from apps like Instagram but remains popular, especially with younger users.
In 2022, Snapchat reported having over 330 million daily active users. It continues to test innovative concepts like augmented reality glasses (Spectacles).
Popular Snapchat Slang and Terminology
Snapchat has developed its own unique slang and terminology over the years. Here are some popular Snapchat terms to know:
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Snap | A photo or video message sent on Snapchat (disappears after being viewed) |
| Story | A collection of Snaps displayed in chronological order (lasts 24 hours) |
| Snapstreak | Number of consecutive days two users have Snapped each other |
| Lens/Filter | Augmented reality effects and filters for Snaps |
| Discover | Section of app with curated Snaps from brands and publishers |
| Snapcode | Unique QR code profile image to add friends easily |
| Snap Map | A map letting you share your location with friends |
| Chat | Messaging feature to send text, video, and audio notes |
| Memories | Section for saving your Snaps and Stories |
| Bitmoji | Personalized avatars created from your selfie |
It’s helpful to understand these common Snapchat terms if you use the app regularly to chat with friends or follow popular accounts. The vocabulary gives insight into core aspects of Snapchat.
Tips for Using Snapchat Like a Pro
Here are some expert tips and tricks for mastering Snapchat like a pro:
1. Experiment with lenses
Snapchat’s huge library of lenses and filters is one of its most popular features. Swipe through different lenses when taking a selfie to find your favorites.
2. Use Geofilters for location
Geofilters add fun location-based overlays to your Snaps. Browse the Geofilters for places you visit to make your Snaps more unique.
3. Send voice and video notes in Chat
Hold down the mic or camcorder icon in Chat to record audio or video notes to send to friends.
4. Share music and podcasts
Use Snapchat to share short music clips or podcast episodes with friends by attaching them to a Chat.
5. Create Snap Ads
If you have a business, you can pay to create Sponsored Lenses and Geofilters as Snap Ads.
6. Use Snap Map to find friends
See where your friends are hanging out in real-time by checking Snap Map. Customize your privacy settings accordingly.
7. Add context to Stories
Caption your Snaps in Stories to give followers context. Long-press on a Snap to add text.
8. Unlock special geofilters
Some location-based geofilters only appear at certain times or under specific conditions.
9. Replay Snaps once per day
You can replay one Snap per day for 24 hours by tapping to view it again before it expires.
10. Video chat with groups
Start a group video chat with up to 16 friends simultaneously by initiating a Group Call.
Conclusion
Snapchat is the top app for fun, ephemeral messaging with augmented reality features. Create an account, add friends, and start Snapping! Send photo and video messages, curate Stories, video chat, explore Discover, and more. Use Snapchat’s creative tools to capture life’s moments with a unique twist.