GirlsGuideTo | Daily Distraction: Snapchat

This may be one of the smartest apps ever created. Hear me out. It’s no secret that the popularity of sexting has grown significantly with the rising popularity of smartphones. However, sexting carries with it a notorious reputation of private images and texts making their way onto public websites for everyone to see (example: Anthony Weiner). While only your awareness can stop sexts being sent to the wrong person, it might be time to find a solution to keep those sexy texts off you and your partner’s phones so unsuspecting friends won’t accidentally see those naughty conversations and photos. Besides, keeping a sext in your phone is prime for friends to make fun of you, or worse, exploit them. But this new iPhone app called Snapchat aims to add a bit of security and a peace of mind to sharing your very personal photos.

While the app does not say it’s intended to make sexting less damaging, the advertising photos seem to suggest it. Girls in tiny bikinis and shorts fill the screens, making us wonder why a seemingly innocent picture would need to be deleted seconds after sending. The app is also clarified by Apple to be targeted for audiences above the age of 12 with a warning of “mild sexual content or nudity.” Still, sexting is still an activity that is entirely up to your own risk. Even the Privacy terms under the Snapchat official site states that the app is not reliable for deleting your naughty photos once they are sent.

Snapchat allows users to set a timer up to 10 seconds of when the message would self-destruct after being received. The image literally disappears forever! If the receiver tries to take a screenshot, then the sender will be instantly notified. While there’s nothing to stop them from taking a picture of the screen with a camera, 10 seconds is a pretty short time and I doubt that’s very common.

Look, sometime or another, you’re probably going to do it. Here’s a way to make it just a little safer. Download Snapchat here.