What are the different types of Snapchat snaps?

Snapchat is a popular social media app that allows users to send photo and video messages called “snaps” to their friends. When you take a snap, you can customize your snap in a variety of ways and send it to individuals or groups of people. There are several different types of snaps you can send on Snapchat.

Regular Snaps

The most basic type of snap is a regular snap. These are photos or videos taken in the Snapchat app that can be customized with filters, text captions, drawings, and more. Regular snaps can be sent directly to friends within the app or added to your Story. Here are some key things to know about regular Snapchat snaps:

Snap length: Videos can be up to 10 seconds long. There’s no limit on the length of still photos.

Customization: You can add filters, text, drawings, and stickers to your snaps.
Viewing: Recipients can view a regular snap once before it disappears. You’ll be notified if they take a screenshot.
Sending: You can share regular snaps with friends directly or add them to your Story for all friends to view.

Stories

Stories allow you to string multiple snaps together into one narrative that stays available for 24 hours. Everything you post to your Story will disappear after 24 hours. Here are some key things about Stories:

Length: There’s no limit on how many snaps you can add to one Story.
Customization: Each individual snap can be customized with filters, text, etc.

Viewing: All your friends can view your Story as many times as they want within 24 hours.
Sending: You don’t send Stories to specific friends. All friends can view Stories.

Camera Roll Snaps

In addition to taking photos directly within the Snapchat app, you can also save photos from your camera roll to create snaps. This allows you to send high-quality photos, edited images, or photos from your library. Here’s what to know about camera roll snaps:

Source: Photos are imported from your camera roll, not taken within Snapchat.
Customization: You can customize with filters, drawings, text, etc.
Viewing: Same viewing rules as regular snaps.

Sending: Camera roll snaps can be sent to friends or added to your Story.

Snapchat Memories

Memories allow you to save your snaps and Stories to your camera roll so you can reuse them later. You can access Memories from within the app and re-share old snaps. Here are the basics of Snapchat Memories:

Saving snaps: You choose which snaps get saved to Memories.

Editing: You can edit saved snaps and Stories before re-sharing.
Re-sharing: Memories can be shared just like regular snaps.
Privacy: You control which snaps do or don’t get saved.

Snapchat Geofilters

Geofilters are a popular Snapchat feature that allow you to add special overlays based on your location. There are custom geofilters for cities, events, and businesses. Key things about geofilters include:

Customization: Geofilters change based on your location.
Designs: There are geofilters designed by Snapchat and custom ones.

Availability: You can only access geofilters in specific locations.
Cost: Businesses can pay to create their own custom geofilters.

Snapchat Lenses

Lenses allow you to add animated overlays and effects to your face when taking selfie snaps. Popular lenses include ones that change your appearance, add virtual makeup, or make you look like animals. Here is what you need to know about Snapchat lenses:

Applying lenses: Open camera in selfie mode, select a lens from carousel.
Effects: Lenses can transform your look, add virtual objects, and more.
Daily lenses: Snapchat adds new daily lenses each day.

Sponsored lenses: Companies can sponsor custom lenses.

Snapchat Filters

Filters allow you to quickly customize the look of your snaps. Snapchat offers filters that change the color tone, add virtual lighting, overlay graphics or text, and more. Key information on Snapchat filters:

Applying filters: Take a snap, then swipe to browse and select filters.

Designs: Filters can overlay graphics, change color, or add virtual lighting.
Custom filters: You can create your own custom filters in the app.
Branded filters: Companies can sponsor custom filters.

Snap Map Location Sharing

The Snap Map lets you share your real-time location with friends on a virtual map. You can also view your friends’ locations if they opt in. Here’s how it works:

Opting in: You choose whether to share your location on the map.
Viewing the map: See where your friends are if they’re sharing locations.

Sharing durations: Pick how long you want friends to see your location.
Privacy: Only mutual friends can view each other’s locations.

Snapchat Chats

In addition to snaps, you can send chat messages within Snapchat. Chat lets you carry on conversations with friends. Key features of Snapchat chat include:

Messaging: Send text, photos, videos, audio clips, and more.
Chat stories: Create a story from your chat messages and photos.
Group chats: Chat with up to 32 friends at once.

Chat settings: Name groups, customize notifications, etc.

Snapchat Video and Voice Calls

Snapchat also allows you to make voice and video calls within the app to have real-time conversations with friends. Here’s what you can do:

Voice calls: Make phone calls using your WiFi or data connection.

Video calls: Make video calls to see your friends live.
Lenses: Use lenses during video calls.
Privacy: Chat screen only shows when you’re actively on a call.

Snapchat Spotlight

Spotlight allows you to share your public snaps on a feed for the chance to earn money if they go viral. Here’s how it works:

Sharing to Spotlight: Choose snaps to share publicly to the Spotlight feed.
Earnings: You earn a share of $1 million in payouts daily if your clip gets views.

Moderation: Snaps are moderated to ensure brand safety.
Viral potential: Spotlight gives chance for snaps to get mass views.

Snapchat Trophies

Snapchat trophies reward you for using different app features. You earn new trophies by doing things like making a video call, adding lots of friends, or using lenses. Key things to know:

Trophy cases: View your trophy collection on your profile.
Unlockable trophies: Do specific things to earn different trophies.
Rarity levels: There are common, rare, and epic trophy types.

Earning trophies: Get a notification when you unlock a new trophy.

Snapchat Groups

Groups on Snapchat allow you to share snaps with multiple friends at once. You can make groups with up to 32 participants. Here’s how they work:

Creating groups: Name the group, add friends to join.

Group snaps: Send snaps to the entire group at once.
Notifications: Get notified when someone screenshots your group snap.
Group chats: Send chat messages to the group too.

Snap Streaks

Snap streaks track how many consecutive days you’ve snapped with each friend. The number of days in a row is shown next to friends you have streaks with. Here are the basics:

Starting streaks: Snap a friend 2+ days in a row.
Maintaining streaks: Keep snapping daily to keep streak alive.

Streak count: The number of days snapping is tracked.
If streak ends: The count resets to 0 days in a row.

Snapchat Scores

In addition to streaks, Snapchat uses a score to reflect your overall Snapchat activity. Things like snapping, posting Stories, and getting snaps screen shot earn you points towards your score. Here’s how it works:

Earning points: Daily activities boost your score.
Point value: Different actions are worth various points.
Score rankings: See how you rank against friends.

Improving score: Snapping and posting often increases score.

Snapchat Subscriptions

Snapchat+ is a paid subscription plan that gives you access to exclusive features. For $3.99/month, subscriptions offer:

Custom icons: Change app icon to your favorite snap.

BFF locator: See your #1 BFF’s location for one hour.
Re-watch indicator: See who re-watched your stories.
Priority support: Faster responses from Snapchat support.

Conclusion

Snapchat offers an array of features that allow you to share fun, ephemeral photos and videos with friends in a variety of ways. From basic photo and video snaps to stories, custom lenses, trophies, subscriptions, and more, there are tons of options for using Snapchat. The many snap types available let you get creative, customize your messages, and find new ways to use the platform.

Some key overarching categories of Snapchat snaps are:

Snaps: Freestyle photos/videos you send directly to friends.

Stories: Collections of snaps viewable by all friends.
Chats: Send messages, links, memos, etc. to friends.
Calling: Make voice or video calls within Snapchat.

Maps: Share your locations on a virtual map.
Filters & Lenses: Add effects and overlays to your snaps.
Trophies & Points: Earn trophies and points for activity milestones.

Groups: Share snaps with multiple friends at once.
Spotlight: Share snaps publicly for mass views.
Subscriptions: Opt-in to premium features for a fee.

With its wide selection of snap types and ways to engage, Snapchat aims to provide a fun, visual way to communicate with friends across the globe. The app makes it easy to share moments, memories, and your daily life through photos and videos.