Sharing the small moments: ephemeral social interaction on Snapchat
Ephemeral social media, platforms that display shared content for a limited period of time, have become a prominent component of the social ecosystem. We draw on experience sampling data collected over two weeks (Study 1; N = 154) and in-depth interview data from
a subsample of participants (Study 2; N = 28) to understand college students’ social and emotional experiences on Snapchat, a popular ephemeral mobile platform. Our quantitative data demonstrated that Snapchat interactions were perceived as more enjoyable –
and associated with more positive mood – than other communication technologies. However, Snapchat interactions were also associated with lower social support than other channels. Our qualitative data highlighted aspects of Snapchat use that may facilitate positive affect (but not social
support), including sharing mundane experiences with close ties and reduced self-presentational concerns. In addition, users compared Snapchat to face-to-face interaction and reported attending to Snapchat content more closely than archived content, which may contribute to increased emotional
rewards. Overall, participants did not see the application as a platform for sharing or viewing photos; rather, Snapchat was viewed as a lightweight channel for sharing spontaneous experiences with trusted ties. Together, these studies contribute to our evolving understanding of ephemeral
social media and their role in social relationships.
Keywords: Ephemerality; emotion; mobile; persistence; support; temporal
Document Type: Research Article
Affiliations: 1: Communication Studies, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA 2: School of Information, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA 3: Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
Publication date: 02 July 2016
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