Snapchat

If you want a pet… Snapchat offers you one created with AI

The use of Artificial Intelligence as a marketing tool seems inevitable in today’s times. In fact, Snapchat is trying to sell itself this way, by revealing new functionalities based on these systems that have advanced so much in the last two years. Thus, in this way, they wanted to showcase the AI pets for your Bitmoji, a new feature that will be available to Snapchat premium subscribers.

Snapchat has been using this new subscription model for a while now, and gradually adding more features to make this paid service more appealing to users. AI pets are therefore the latest addition to Snapchat to attract more people to their service.

Snapchat Download

Snapchat and your AI pet

Snapchat, as shown by Socialmediatoday, has created a new feature for Snapchat Plus users that allows their bitmojis to have an AI-generated pet. You can create it according to your preferences, and once it’s done, it can be part of your Bitmoji creations in an organic way.

The operation is simple: the AI will be responsible for designing your pet according to your instructions, and later, it will offer you various models based on your request. If you are satisfied with one of the generated options, you just have to click on the one you like the most, and it will become your pet. If you are not convinced by any design generated by the AI, you can repeat the process until you find what you are looking for.

The curious changes in the application

This is not the first AI feature with an unorthodox touch from Snapchat. In fact, in recent months, they also allowed users to create a friend that is actually an AI chatbot, which interacts with the user based on their interests and preferences.

In fact, paid users can also create snaps through AI tools that have gradually been integrated into the application. With this, it is clear that Snapchat is not afraid of criticism for using generative AI for its users and, furthermore, it continues to strengthen itself in that area to compete in the strong social media market.

Snapchat Download

Paying Snapchat users will be able to share snaps created with AI

Snapchat, the popular social network known for its ephemeral posts, has taken a new leap in functionalities aimed at its paying users. Now, those subscribed to Snapchat Plus can create posts using Artificial Intelligence and share them.

Artificial Intelligence stands as one of the key trends of 2023, drawing to a close, and Snapchat is actively embracing it. Therefore, Snapchat Plus users will enjoy innovative features that not only enhance the subscription but also align Snapchat with other services integrating AI into their product and service offerings.

Snapchat DOWNLOAD

Artificial Intelligence for premium accounts

These features, behind Snapchat’s paywall, enable users to access generative AI. Through text commands, this AI creates various types of content based on user requests. The AI leverages its training from other content on the platform to make combinations aligned with the feedback it receives from processed text.

Snapchat thereby provides users with the opportunity to diversify their content with less effort. The AI takes over the “creative process” (even if it involves “borrowing” content from the platform) and makes it accessible to those who pay the subscription fee for their service.

Snapchat doesn’t have the same strength it had a few years ago, but it’s still being used by millions of users.

Improvements in content control

Snapchat has always been heavily used, leveraging its strength as a platform where content disappears after 24 hours to disseminate inappropriate or non-compliant content that might not pass on many other social media platforms. However, Snapchat is working to prevent this use through tools like parental controls or the implementation of new algorithms that curb the spread of inappropriate content, whether it’s violent, explicit, or contains nudity.

In recent years, Snapchat has lost many users to Instagram, which replicated Snapchat’s flagship format with its well-known “stories,” and with that move, Meta’s photo-sharing app dominated one of its main competing brands. However, Snapchat has managed to stay as an attractive alternative thanks to its filters and collaborations and is now seeking to sustain itself with the support of generative AI.

Snapchat DOWNLOAD

Snapchat adds strike system against inappropriate content

Social networks have been on everyone’s lips for years now and are used by a large segment of the population. From the oldest people to practically small children use some kind of social network, be it Facebook or TikTok (even Youtube could be included in this way). This technology has brought many people endless joys, from finding out the news of distant relatives to making groups of friends that could never happen otherwise because of geographical limits, but it also involves risks: from people who use these systems for perverse or criminal purposes to users who share publications of a sensitive, violent or pornographic nature.

Snapchat DOWNLOAD

Snapchat is fed up

The social network does not want to sustain this kind of behavior either actively or passively, so it has announced a series of new measures that seek to protect children and adolescents, including ensuring that they are safe from people they do not know in real life and preventing them from being exposed to sensitive content of any kind. To this end, a system of strikes supported by detection technologies has been established to prosecute users who engage in this type of behavior.

This system combines automatic detection with human action: thus, the process of strikes starts from the fact that any post made on the social network, whether in Stories or Spotlight, is subject to being reported by any user who accesses it. Snapchat moderators will thus personally review any reported content that has been flagged by the system. It is curious that they have not opted to reinforce these functions with artificial intelligence, since practically all technology companies are betting on them and some Zoom Companion functions could make this task lighter.

On the other hand, in order to prevent strangers from accessing the most vulnerable people, Snapchat will warn any user if a person with whom they do not have contacts in common tries to add them; likewise, the number of contacts in common is increased before a person’s contact is recommended. In parallel to this, Snapchat has committed to continue improving its parents-snapchat.com website which includes relevant information regarding safety on the network.

Snapchat DOWNLOAD

Even so, the company insists that the only viable way to stay away from threats in the long term is a responsible use of the network, so education is essential in this regard.

The Negative Effects of Heavy Social Media Use

Social media has become a fundamental part of our everyday lives. We spend a large part of our days glued to our phones and updating our statuses, sharing our experiences, or simply scrolling through our feeds to find out what our friends are up to. While all this may sound like innocent fun, it has the potential to cause serious problems.

Social media is undeniably a great way to keep in touch with family and friends and stay on top of breaking news, but it’s also responsible for many of the problems of modern life. Addiction, depression, loss of close friendships and insomnia are only a few of the effects it can have on us.

In today’s article, we’re going to look at some of the main problems that social media has brought into our lives. It’s up to us to start using it in moderation.

1. It’s a waste of time

One of the main problems with social media is that it’s a major waste of time. It’s probably happened to you more than once: you’re scrolling through Facebook or Instagram, and before you know it, the entire afternoon has gone by. At first glance, this habit may seem innocuous, but in the long run it can become a serious problem.

Spending too much time on social media can have a negative impact on our lives, starting with our health. Since the rise of social media, many of us have traded taking walks and playing sports for lounging on the sofa and posing.

It not only affects your body, but also puts your mental health at risk. Excessive social media use can throw off your internal clock, causing you to lose your notion of time and even your ability to distinguish between night and day.

Other problems caused by wasting time on social media include difficulty concentrating or performing well at work, and the tendency to neglect one’s real-life friends in order to focus on the online ones.

That’s why it’s so important to limit the amount of time you spend on social media every day. Keep in mind that life is going on around you while you stare at your screen, and you’ll never get back the time you’re wasting.

2. It increases stress

Being addicted to social media can exponentially increase your stress level. Considering how we already live in a high-stress society, this is not something to be taken lightly.

Social media can lead to information addiction and the need to always know what is happening in the world or in the lives of your friends or acquaintances. In the long run, this leads to F.O.M.O. (Fear of Missing Out), a social anxiety disorder stemming from the irrational fear of missing some event and consequently being excluded from your group of friends.

Another major stressor arising from social media networks concerns their messaging services. You’re constantly wondering if the other person received your message, and when they take too long to respond, it can make you anxious and even depressed.

It’s important to know how to limit and manage the information you receive on social media and to avoid thinking of these platforms when you’re not connected to them.

3. It causes low self esteem

On social media, the temptation to compare your life with those of the people you follow can be irresistible. What many users don’t realize is that the lives portrayed on Facebook or Instagram are often not real, but pure fabrications created to attract more followers or to appear to be something one is not.

As the saying goes, comparison is the thief of joy, and when you constantly see your friends partying, flaunting perfect bodies, living in luxury or traveling around the world, you may perceive yourself as inferior to them.

Many social media users live in a constant state of depression due to a sense of inferiority and lack, since they don’t have the same lifestyle that they see everyone else enjoying every day.

Keep in mind that the majority of what you see on social media is just for show. Often, a person on social media who always looks happy and appears to have the perfect job is secretly unhappy and only wants to show the world the life that they wish they were actually leading.

4. It makes you lose your individuality

Social networks have led to the rise of the so-called influencers, a select group of users who, due to their charisma or posts, have amassed millions of followers. Influencers are so popular that major brands use them to promote their products or fashion.

Anything influencers say is applauded by their followers, and they are the ones who decide what is in or out of style. This generates a loss of individuality, because their followers become like sheep, following trends dictated by a handful of people.

5. It generates depression

Although there are countless things that make social media great, it can be an endless source of depression for users. These networks generate a sense of dependency and a constant need for affirmation from other users through “likes” and comments.

Excessive social media users could fall into a deep depression due to a tiny incident such as posting a selfie and not receiving as many “likes” as expected.

Another factor that can impact your mood concerns attacks by trolls or people who amuse themselves by posting hurtful comments online. Social networks have made it much easier to spread hate through groups where these individuals often pop up.

6. It affects your sleep

Excessive social media use is directly linked to insomnia. This is a consequence of other factors we have mentioned, such as stress and depression, which together create a vicious cycle of unhappiness.

It is proven that using any screen before bedtime makes it much harder to fall asleep. What’s more, social media is addictive and hard to stop thinking about even after you go to bed.

It is advisable to use social media in moderation and avoid looking at it before you go to sleep. That’s the only way you can be sure it won’t keep you up all night.

7. It generates arguments and misunderstandings

Social media lets us stay in touch with friends who live thousands of miles away and be close to our family no matter where we are. However, it can also lead to arguments and has the potential to break up even the strongest couples.

A comment on a photo that you dislike, a party you weren’t invited to, a message that was read and never answered… the reasons why people argue on social media are endless. What’s more, since it’s in writing, it’s much easier to misinterpret the tone of a conversation and reach erroneous conclusions.

Since their appearance, social media networks have brought families and friends closer together but have also destroyed stable, long-term relationships.

8. It generates a fear of being different

Social media breaks down the privacy barrier in our lives. They help us to learn things about our coworkers, friends and family members that we otherwise would not know.

Living life your own way, spending your time how you see fit, or thinking in a different way can generate a fear of being different from your loved ones. This leads to confusion, insecurity, and often a fear of not fitting in because you’re too different.

What to do if you feel negatively impacted by social media

As we’ve explained above, social media isn’t just an innocent way to have fun and be connected to the rest of the world. It has many negative effects that we need to know how to mitigate.

If you identify with any of the symptoms we’ve described, we recommend spending a few days away from social media and doing a digital detox. The first few days without being able to check Facebook, upload photos to Instagram or let off steam via Twitter will be hard for you, but in no time at all, you’ll find yourself feeling better. Once you have regained control of your life and time, you can always go back to social media, making sure you use it with moderation.

If you find yourself incapable of spending a single day without it, you probably have a serious social media addiction. In this case, we recommend deleting the apps from your phone and seeking professional help. It may seem like an extreme measure, but in the long run, you’ll realize it was the best decision you could have made.

Do you know of any other negative effects of social media? Tell us about them in the comments section!

The Best Filters for Instagram Stories

The Positive Effects Of Heavy Social Media Use

In just a few years’ time, social media has become a fundamental part of our daily lives. In fact, for many of us, it would be hard to imagine our lives without being able to check Facebook or share our most special moments on Instagram. Without a doubt, social media has dramatically changed how we use the internet and relate to other people.

If you’re a social media fan, you’ve probably had more than one friend or family member warn you of its many adverse effects. And truth be told, while they’re useful, these communication tools can take a toll on your mind and body when used obsessively.

That said, the world of social media is not all bad, and if you don’t let it become an addiction, it can help you to live a much fuller and happier life.

In today’s article, we’re going to look at the positive impact that social media can have on your daily life. These revolutionary communication tools can make your day-to-day routines a lot more pleasant. Keep reading to find out how!

1. It can help you make new friends

Social networks make it exponentially easier to find people with hobbies and tastes similar to yours, which isn’t always possible face to face. In addition, it’s much easier for friendships to flow without superfluous aspects such as preconceived ideas or first impressions based on someone’s physical appearance.

Of course, before starting a friendship with someone, it’s important to make sure the person you’re talking to is who they claim to be. Otherwise you may be the victim of a scam or a con or have your heart broken by a catfish. Want to know how to spot one? You can find out by reading the article below.

Catfishing: What it is, how to spot an imposter, and what to do about it

2. It can reunite you with family and friends

One of the amazing things about social media is the fact that it has made families more united than ever while helping people to get back in touch after being out of contact for many years.

What’s my childhood best friend up to? How’s my brother who works in the UK? Is my mom okay? Thanks to social media, the answers to all these questions are right at your fingertips. It’s just a matter of typing a person’s name and finding their profile. Then you can chat, follow their updates, and have them back in your life just like in the good old days.

3. It can help you stay on top of breaking news

Social media sites like Twitter have revolutionized the news industry. They make it possible to learn about important current events only seconds after they happen without needing to depend on mainstream news sources.

One of the reasons social media is so popular is that you don’t have to look anywhere else for the latest news. All you have to do is log into the platform of your choice to see the news posted and organized on your wall. You can keep track of what’s happening in the world and even in your city or neighborhood in the blink of an eye.

4. It’s an unlimited source of interesting content

Another important point about social media: it gives you access to a variety of content that is specifically tailored to you and displayed in a simple, pleasant format. Through the accounts and groups you choose to follow, you can receive videos, tutorials, articles and unlimited content promising hours of education and fun.

Best of all, like the news, once you decide to follow an account, all of its posts will appear automatically on your wall. It will then become an endless source of content tailored to your tastes and preferences.

5. It can help you find work and promote yourself

Social networking sites are great for staying in touch with family and friends, but they also play a fundamental role in the work world. There are social media platforms like LinkedIn that can help you find a new job, and they’re also useful if you’re searching for employees or looking to promote your business online.

6. It reveals things you didn’t know about people

You may assume that you know all your friends, acquaintances and even co-workers like the back of your hand, but do you really know everything about them? In person, we often put up a shield or wear a mask of normalcy so as to not seem strange to people we barely know. But on social media, we give free rein to our thoughts, hobbies and beloved pastimes without worrying about seeming strange.

Often, when you add an acquaintance on social media, you realize that they’re much more interesting than you initially imagined. You might discover that you have a lot in common with one of your friends and that you enjoy many of the same activities, which you can start doing together.

7. It creates new jobs

The rise of social media has driven the creation of new jobs. Just think of everyone who works in the Social Media field. These consultants are in charge of capturing new clients, sharing key content on social media, and being the voice of a company or a product online. They have generated close, direct contact between companies and users, resulting in happy consumers who are loyal to the product.

8. It brings people closer together

Social media has managed to bring millions of people closer together even though they are thousands of miles apart. Although there were already programs to make calls or video calls, social media has taken things up a notch, making it even easier to communicate.

These platforms make it possible to follow your loved ones’ daily lives in a fun, uplifting way and to communicate with them instantly or through a post. This means you can have your friends around for all the important moments of your life even if they don’t live in the same town as you.

9. It makes it easier to donate to a good cause

Social media plays an important role in sharing messages to help people and charitable causes. For instance, thousands of people who have lost their pets have recovered them after rapidly sharing a photo of their dog or cat on social media.

Social media is also used to spread the word about good causes to a large number of people. Through these sites, donations can be made to sponsor research on a rare disease, to end hunger in the third world, to save an animal shelter, or simply to help an elderly person pay for their sick dog’s operation.

10. It gives free rein to your creativity

If you’re a creative person, social media is an excellent way to share your works of art with the rest of the world. Regardless of whether you use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest, social media is a great way to showcase your talent and receive instant feedback from other users.

There are numerous cases of amateur artists who have posted illustrations, music or writing samples and have been discovered and hired by professionals. Social media is inarguably a fantastic platform for new artists who want to try their luck with their creations online.

11. It lets you freely express your thoughts

Social media encourages all of us to come out of our shell and share our thoughts without fear of being judged. This makes it much easier to communicate for introverts, who see social media as a place to freely express themselves. That’s why for many people, being on social media is far more than a way of staying in touch with family or sharing interests with friends. It’s a communication format that allows them to open up to the world completely.

As you can see, social media has brought many positive things into our lives. However, it’s important to keep in mind that using it all the time can generate addiction and lead to serious health problems. So, be sure to use common sense, and never forget that the real world lies beyond your phone’s display.

What’s your favorite social media platform, and what’s the best experience you’ve had with it? Tell us about it in the comments section!

How to: Break your Social Media Habit

The Truth about Spying in Video Chat Apps

In recent months, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to make widespread use of a variety of video chat apps. They have enabled us to connect face-to-face with our friends and families and to attend classes, work meetings, and even job interviews without leaving our homes. These apps are great for staying in touch, but are they secure?

We are living in the information age, and hackers and cybercriminals are well aware of the amount of personal data we share through video chats. That’s why privacy should be a concern whenever you install an app on our device. Nobody wants to be spied on or see their personal data fall into the wrong hands.

In today’s article, we’re going to talk about security in video chat apps. We’ll analyze the most popular ones to identify vulnerabilities and give you some tips to prevent unpleasant experiences.

Are video chat apps secure?

Like any app, or even the operating system on your device, video chat apps are not 100% secure. We don’t mean to say they are potentially dangerous, but they can have security holes and vulnerabilities that could be used for malicious purposes. You have probably heard of the notorious case in which Zoom was accused of leaking personal data to Facebook, including the data of users who didn’t have an account on the social media platform. Another case was far worse, also involving Zoom, and it concerned a vulnerability in its UNC links that allowed hackers to steal their victims’ Windows credentials.

Although these two examples concern Zoom, many other video chat apps have been found to have similar problems. Does that mean you should stop using them? No, but it does mean you need to choose your video chat app carefully instead of blindly following the trends. Always do your research before installing an app that could compromise your privacy and that of your data.

What problems could I have if I use an unsecure video chat app?

As we mentioned, most video chat apps have security holes that can cause a headache or two. Here are some of the typical problems that can be caused by these vulnerabilities:

They can undermine your privacy and that of your data– Some video chat apps don’t encrypt the data you share, which means hackers can hear whatever you say or access any files you share. They can even distort the message you are transmitting.
They can change the access to your video chat– Security holes often prevent you from controlling who can access your conversation or meeting. That’s why there have been so many cases of online trolls “bombing” video conferences and even taking over calls that are underway.
They can create fake problems with your computer– Another security hole makes it seem like you’re having problems with your PC’s microphone or camera, and as a result, you inadvertently hand over control of them to third parties.
They can take control of your PC– In the worst-case scenario, hackers can use vulnerabilities in video chat apps to gain full access to your computer. Fortunately, these problems are less common, and the vast majority of video chat apps are immune to them.

How can I protect myself during a video chat?

Before you have a video chat, it’s important to take a few simple steps to ensure your cybersecurity. That way, you’ll protect your privacy and data and enjoy your video chats with total peace of mind.

Make sure your video chat app is up-to-date– As we stated above, video chat apps have vulnerabilities that are repaired every time these apps are updated. Regardless of whether you use a mobile or a desktop app, make sure it is always the latest version.
Always protect your meetings with a password– If you are hosting an online work meeting or conference, never forget to add a password and activate a waiting room. That way, you can make sure that the only participants in your meeting are invited guests.
Switch off your guests’ microphones and cameras– In addition to the above, if you’re going to give a chat, don’t forget to mute the microphones and switch off the cameras of your guests.
Beware of uninvited guests– If you are hosting a work meeting, do a headcount to make sure that you have no unwanted visitors. This is frequent at large conferences: it seems like someone who’s not supposed to be there always manages to sneak in.
Be mindful of who you’re chatting with– Never share sensitive information with someone you don’t know or trust 100%.
Don’t video chat with strangers– Never accept a video chat invitation from someone you don’t know, and avoid using features available on some apps such as random video chat.
Don’t click on any links you receive– As a general rule, you should never click on any links you are sent during a chat. They could redirect you to a malicious website that uses the security holes in your video chat app to gain access to your computer.
Activate two-step verification– If the app you’re using has two-step verification, activate it. This makes it harder for hackers to gain access to your accounts.
Never make video calls on open Wi-Fi networks– Avoid using public or open Wi-Fi networks, because you run the risk of hackers intercepting your conversations.

Are the most popular video chat apps secure?

WhatsApp is one of the world’s most popular messaging apps for texts, phone calls, and video chats. One might think that since it now belongs to Facebook, it might not be secure. However, all chats, voice messages, and video chats on WhatsApp are 100% encrypted, so only you and the person on the other end of the line can access their content. In fact, the company can’t even access your content. WhatsApp uses the Signal Protocol system from Open Whisper, one of the best in the world, for encryption. WhatsApp is therefore a secure app for video conferencing. If you’re interested, you can download it below.

WhatsApp for Android

WhatsApp (Android) DOWNLOAD

WhatsApp for iOS

WhatsApp (iOS) DOWNLOAD

Zoom

Zoom has been the star app of the COVID-19 confinement season. It has allowed families separated by the pandemic to stay in touch and students to attend classes from home. However, it’s not an airtight app. In fact, Zoom has been at the center of multiple security-related scandals in recent months. Fortunately, the company has been updating the app systematically and fixing each vulnerability detected, although it’s likely that some have yet to be identified. That’s why if you use Zoom, it’s a good idea to take the security steps above.

Zoom for PC

Zoom Meetings DOWNLOAD

Zoom for Android

Zoom Meetings (Android) DOWNLOAD

Zoom for iOS

Zoom Meetings (iOS) DOWNLOAD

Messenger

Messenger is Facebook’s messaging and chat app. You can use it to chat with friends on the social media platform or on the convenient mobile app. Although Messenger wasn’t a very secure app in the past, it has since gained a number of features that protect your privacy. Among them are Secret Conversations, which are 100% encrypted in a similar way to WhatsApp. Therefore, when configured correctly, Messenger is a relatively secure app.

Messenger for PC

Messenger (PC) DOWNLOAD

Messenger for Android

Messenger (Android) DOWNLOAD

Messenger for iOS

Messenger (iOS) DESCARGAR

Google Duo

Google Duo is the perfect app for video chat fans who are concerned about privacy. It encrypts calls by default, so only the person you’re chatting with can see or hear you. In addition, the app is optimized to run smoothly regardless of the kind of connection you are using. Google Duo is therefore one of the best apps to guarantee privacy in your video chats.

Google Duo for Android

Google Duo (Android) DOWNLOAD

Google Duo for iOS

Google Duo (iOS) DOWNLOAD

Snapchat is one of the most popular apps for young people and teens all over the world. Users of this social media platform can share all kinds of multimedia content and have video chats. Among its biggest attractions are its many filters and fun effects that can be added to these video chats. Although videoconferences on Snapchat are said to be encrypted, they rely on symmetric key encryption within the app itself. This makes them very vulnerable to potential hacker attacks. If you want to have a confidential video call, it’s best to avoid Snapchat.

Snapchat for Android

Snapchat DOWNLOAD

Snapchat for iOS

Snapchat DOWNLOAD

We hope our article has helped you to protect your video chats. Do you use any apps that we didn’t include on our list? Tell us about them in the comments section!

The Positive Effects Of Heavy Social Media Use

FaceApp shows you what you’d look with an old face!

Ever wanted to see yourself bald, but were too chicken to shave your head? This app can show you!

Have you always wanted to know what you’re going to look like when you’re old? How about what you’d look like as a blonde? Do you struggle with growing facial hair, but want to see what you’d look like with a full beard? Well, FaceApp might just be the answer you were looking for!

FaceApp uses AR technology to take a picture of someone and change the facial features. There are also filters that can add things to your face like make-up. You can either take a new picture or give the app permission to access your photos.

FaceApp Download now ►

It’s free…kinda

The app and some of the filters are free. However, there are several cool features that will cost money.

Here’s what’s currently free:

Make yourself smile
Make yourself older
Make yourself younger
Give yourself a chinstrap beard and mustache
Make your hair black
Give yourself bangs
Give yourself glasses
Several photo editing tools and background/foreground filters

Here’s what costs money:

Different types of smiles
Top-quality filters
7 additional facial hair features
Make your hair blonde, brown, red, or tinted
7 additional hairstyles including bald
12 Make-up features

If the paid options sound up your alley, there are three subscription options:

$3.99 monthly
$19.99 for 1 year
$39.99 for forever

There’s also a free filter that can make you look like the opposite gender. As you might know, Snapchat has one too, so it’s up to you to decide which one looks better.

We used Snapchat’s new filters on these celebs. Can you guess who they are?

Check it out ►

Privacy concerns

A concern iOS users have with FaceApp is how the app can access your photo library without you giving it permission.

Shouldn’t photo access need to be enabled for this to be possible ? ? pic.twitter.com/wy45zKn63E

— Karissa Bell (@karissabe) July 16, 2019

Interesting enough, this isn’t because of something the app is doing, but because of something Apple is doing. Apple allows an app to access your photos so that you (the user) can select one for editing purposes.

Furthermore, FaceApp responded to growing concerns from users in a statement to TechCrunch.

In their statement, FaceApp developers said that the app isn’t storing photos in a database to sell them to third parties, or is sending them to Russia (the app is from Russia). At times, a single photo that a user is editing is stored in the cloud, but only to improve traffic. These photos are typically all deleted within 48 hours.

Is it worth the price?

Some of the optional filters are pretty dumb. For example, one of the premium filters puts a pair of sunglasses on you. That’s right, you can pay money to see how a pair of generic, fake-looking sunglasses looks on you.

However, seeing what you would look like with a different hair color or what you’d look like bald is pretty cool. I mean, you can see for yourself with a razor or a box of dye, but this is quicker and doesn’t come with a major risk factor.

Regardless, the free version of the app is worth a download. Fool around with it and share your favorite altered photos!

What is YOLO: the anonymous question app?

YOLO lets your Snapchat friends send you anonymous questions.

YOLO is a new, free-to-download app that can help your friends get to know you better.

YOLO allows your Snapchat friends to anonymously ask you questions. Let’s say one of your Snapchat friends wants to know if you’re single but is too shy to ask you directly. Or, what if someone wants to know if you’re mad at them, but is worried what you might say to their face? YOLO can help you out!

YOLO is not available yet for Android. Within a week of its launch, YOLO raced to the top of the iOS app charts with about 125,000 downloads already.

YOLO Download free ►

Snapchat Download Free ►

How to use it

Download YOLO here.
Open the app.
Agree to the terms and conditions.
Link it to your Snapchat account.
Click on “get anonymous messages.”
Snapchat will open.
Post the message to your story, letting your friends know they can anonymously send you messages.

According to the terms of service, the app is allowed to collect and store personal information including your name, phone number, email address, password, photo, avatar, and location.

Cyberbullying concern

Since users can say something anonymously to someone, the app may invite cyber bullies. A cyberbully could potentially send a malicious message to a user without fear of being caught.

When you download the app, you agree to not use the app for malicious purposes under threat of being banned.

YOLO also warns that if you use the app maliciously, your identity will be revealed. However, users have reported that they have not seen this happen as of yet, according to a report from Offspring.

According to the download page, YOLO is for users 12 and up.

Should I download it?

The privacy concerns and cyberbullying concerns are definitely a cause for concern. However, these are both nothing new for social media programs, and seem pretty tame by modern standards. Do we really need to go over all the drama with Facebook?

Facebook steals information about your menstrual cycles, home buying, more

Read now ►

If you are still in high school, and cyberbullying is an issue, this is probably not the right app for you. If you are older and have friends that have grown beyond petty bullying, then this can be a lot of fun.

We used Snapchat’s new filters on these celebs. Can you guess who they are?

Snapchat’s new filters can make you look more feminine or masculine. Let’s see how convincing they are!

Snapchat’s newest filters are a bit of a gender bender.

You can look more masculine by choosing the filter of a bearded avatar with a purple circle. Or, you can use the filter of the make-up clad avatar with a purple circle to look more feminine.

Snapchat Download Free ►

We used the filters on some of our favorite celebrities. Can you guess who they really are?

(function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(d.getElementById(id))return;js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=’https://embed.playbuzz.com/sdk.js’;fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}(document,’script’,’playbuzz-sdk’));

Make sure you do not use the new filter for evil. One guy used it to make his girlfriend jealous, and regretted it.

Let us know in the comments below how many you got right, and which ones threw you for a loop!

Snapchat announces big new features

From AR to ads, here’s what Snapchat is planning for the future.

Snap CEO Evan Spiegel just announced a whole host of updates that prove that Snap, the company, is gearing up for an expansion that extends well beyond Snapchat, the app.

Spiegel made the announcement at the company’s first partner summit, telling the audience that new AR features, original content, integrations, and even a Snap-powered ad network were about to launch.

Clearly, Spiegel is hoping for a comeback, one that positions Snap as a serious Facebook competitor. Here’s a look at some of the announcements:

Snap AR: What’s new?

Snap’s new augmented reality experience comes with a range of tools that allow the use of augmented reality tools. As is the case with Google’s ARCore and Apple’s ARKit, the basis of the AR suite revolves around your phone’s camera and lens.

Here’s a quick rundown of what you’ll find inside:

Scan

Scan is Snap’s new camera search function. It’s not quite a camera-powered search engine. How Scan works is, users press and hold the Snap camera screen and the app will present them with a selection of “relevant experiences” based on their environment.

Scan is also designed to read snap codes, bar codes and products to make purchases on Amazon and users can scan their environment to learn more about music playing with a Shazam integration.

Snapchat Download Free ►

Snapchat Lens Studio

The Snapchat Lens Studio has been around since 2017, but they’ve added a few things to flesh out the platform.

The Lens Studio now includes a template called Landmarkers, which allows users to transform the world’s landmarks into AR creations (not sure why we need this, but OK).

Other templates include body tracking, pet tracking, and hand tracking — all work the same way — you’ll create AR overlays that track with the aforementioned elements.

Soon, users will be able to create Lens Creator Profiles, which Snapchat says is a new platform for “building an audience” and sharing your Lenses.

The platform also includes something called Photomath. Users can take a picture of their math homework or a receipt and get an answer in return.

Snap Games

Snapchat has announced Snap Games, which is similar to Facebook Messenger’s Instant Games, a mix of ported HTML5 versions of arcade games, in-house originals, and new offerings from Zynga and ZeptoLabs.

According to TechCrunch, the gaming platform stands to increase the amount of time users spend inside the app, which allows them to boost their revenue stream through ad views.

Introducing Snap’s Utility Partners

One reason that Facebook has been able to attract and retain so many (billions!) of users is, Mark Zuckerberg has long embraced third-party app makers. Snapchat’s Spiegel, not so much.

Snap is finally changing its tune and they’re gearing up to compete with Facebook.

Snapchat plans to let apps like Tinder, Houseparty, incorporate elements of their technology into outside apps.

Snap is doing a lot… will it help them grow?

Snap is changing up their approach to making money. Instead of focusing on growth, the company is working to monetize the users they have.

While Snapchat still has a stable user base, there has been no shortage of rumors swirling around the web — predicting the app’s demise.

Still, Snapchat already has some distinct advantages over the competition. And these new features could be a big win for Snap. They have games now! They’ll do your homework! And there’s more…

Speaking of more… Snapchat also does ads now

They’re also developing an ad platform to get in on the big tech business model.

Spiegel claims that Snap’s approach to ads is different than Facebook’s in-app paid ads.

Instead, they plan on selling ads that appear inside other companies’ apps.

Snap Audience Network is similar to Facebook’s Audience Network, which allows apps developers to sign up for the program and provide space for advertisers to display their ads.

Snapchat launches original shows

Read Now ►

Because the platform has stopped growing, Snap is partnering with other companies to bring more value to advertisers — widening the number of people who might see the ad. This makes sense, as they definitely can’t compete with Facebook’s massive audience-targeting tools.

That said, companies concerned with Facebook’s privacy ethics might be attracted to Snap. The company has repeatedly stated that their developer partners do not have access to Snapchat users’ personal data.

Instead, only Snapchat display names are shared with companies when a user links their account to a third-party app.

It’s worth pointing out that targeted ads depend on user data, so advertisers might not get the same return on ad investment with Snapchat as they might when they advertise on Instagram.

Can they compete with the likes of Facebook?

It remains to be seen whether Snap will rise to the level of Google and Facebook and emerge as a serious competitor.

According to CNBC, Snap stock rose following the announcement, yet a lack of growth remains a concern.

That said, Snap is putting its eggs in as many revenue baskets as possible. Perhaps at least one will hatch into something that will save the platform.

5 amazing Snaplenses for gamers

Read Now ►