Snapchat is a popular app that was developed in 2011. The design lets over 100 million users snap a picture then send it to a friend for ten seconds or less. Four years later, the recent updates have created dramatic changes that users are still adapting to.

Originally, friends could only send texts with 36 letters along with their pictures. Now, there is a separate section for much longer messages that don’t disappear. This causes Snapchat to be more like a chatting or messaging app.

“My Story” was included in the update, too. Instead of sending individual snaps, it lets users post pictures or videos for everyone to see. The story lasts for twenty-four hours, which goes against what Snapchat is known for.

Now, companies such as Cosmopolitan posts daily stories. They include links to articles, professional photos, and the latest gossip. The posts are unavoidable for snap-chatters. The app uses the companies’ advertisements for financial support, but many users aren’t very accepting of the new addition.

The most talked about changes are filters, increasing of font size, and colors. Pictures can be edited using three different filters. This eliminates the problem of not looking good in snaps.

The size of the letters are able to be increased by double-tapping the screen. This is a relief from the old twelve-point font size. Emojis, or emoticons, can be enlarged too. Users can select their silly faces from the keyboard to describe their mood or create a twist to their selfies.  A wide variety of colors may be chosen to brighten up messages, as well.

Overall, Snapchat is continuing to evolve into more than just a picture app. It continues to move farther away from the unique idea of disappearing pictures as it is updated. Users can expect more changes in the future.