HOW THE APP WORKS
WHAT IS SNAPCHAT?
Snapchat is a messaging app used to send pictures, videos and messages to friends in your address book.
HOW DO YOU USE IT?
You can take pictures and record videos within the app to send to your friends, or upload directly from your device's in-built camera. You can add filters, stickers and text to personalise your message.
WHAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT FROM OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS?
Pictures, videos and other messages are only available for a limited time before they vanish. This time limit used to be 10 seconds, but now the message vanishes when the recipient closes it down.
Snapchat was also one of thefirstsocialmediaplatforms to feature "Stories" – a function allowing users to display their Snaps over a 24-hour period.
WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO WITH IT?
A function added in 2016 enabled Snapchat users to save their pictures, videos and stories into "Memories"– a section of the app which would store Snaps taken on a particular device. You can follow celebrities and view their public stories, and catch up on the latest news using the app's featured and daily stories section.
HOW MANY PEOPLE USE IT?
As of May last year, Snapchat has an estimated 166million active users.