How to Use Snapchat

• Snapchat Icon:
• Screens:
  • Main camera screen: Allows you to take a photo, add text or drawing, and send to friends or add to your story. This screen should be the first one to open after opening the application. Operations:
    • To take a photo: click the round button in the bottom middle of the screen.
    • To change camera (normal/front facing): click the  icon in the top right.
    • To use flash: Click the flash icon  in the top left.
    • To type: take a photo, then tap on the screen to bring up the keyboard. When finished typing, click anywhere on the photo to put the keyboard back down. To revise text: click on the text bar. To move text: Drag the bar up or down on the screen. To make text larger/ move positions, click the “T” icon in the top right after typing. This will allow you to enlarge the text and move it across the screen.
    • To add drawings: Take a photo, then click the  icon on the top right. You can then choose which color you would like, and draw on the photo. To remove drawing: click the back arrow icon in the top right.
    • To delete photo: click the X button in the top left of the screen, OR click the “back” button on the device.
    • To change time setting: take a photo, then click the timer icon in the bottom left of the screen. This will allow you to choose how long the snap will play for.
    • To add filter or geofilter: after you take a photo, swipe right continuously until you land on a filter you want. Filters include but are not limited to: time, temperature, black & white, battery usage, and geofilters.
    • To add snap to story: After photo is finished, click the send button  at the bottom right of the screen, choose “My story” from the list, then click the send button at the bottom right of the screen again, OR click the  icon at the bottom of the screen. (You may have to click “okay” once you’ve done this)
    • To remove a snap from your story: From the camera screen, swipe to the left to bring up the story screen. On “My story” click the 3 dot button on the right of the screen, and choose the photo you want to delete. This will bring up the photo, where you can then click the X icon at the bottom right, then click delete.
    • To save a snap to your device: Once you have taken a photo, press the    icon at the bottom left. This will save the photo to your device’s library.
  • Conversation screen: Allows you to view your conversations with snap chat friends. To get to this screen, swipe right when you are on the main camera screen. Operations:
    • Snap chats you have received that have been opened will have  next to them.
    • Snap chats you have received that have not been opened will have  next to them.
    • Snap chats you have sent that have been opened will have  next to them.
    • Snap chats you have sent that have not been opened will have  next to them.
    • Photos will be in pink, and videos will be in purple.
    • To open a snap, tap on the name of the sender on the conversation screen. You can either let it time out, or tap the screen again to close it.
    • To reply to a snap, either double click on the username, or slide right on the username, and click the at the bottom right of the screen.
    • To take a screen shot of a snap: While the snap is open, hold down the “power” and “home” buttons on your device until photo is taken.
  • Story screen: This is where you can view the stories of your snap chat friends, as well as your own story. To get to this screen, swipe left when you are on the main camera screen.
    • To view a story: tap on the name of the user. Just as you would view an individual snap, you can wait for it to time out, or tap the screen. If story has multiple snaps, tap to change to the next one.
  • Ghost icon: Tapping the ghost icon on the main camera screen will allow you to view your username, as well as see the list of your friends. It also allows you to view/change your settings. To exit this menu, swipe up.

Snapchat Best Practices

What is Snapchat? 

Snapchat is an app that allows you to take a photo and send it to friends or post it on your story. The photo is only available to be viewed for up to 10 seconds, then it is gone. It is a way to share photos without taking the time to make a long post like you would on Facebook or Twitter.

Why should I use Snapchat?

Snapchat is an app that many people, especially teenagers and young adults are using. It is a way for people to stay connected and see bits of someone’s everyday lives without having to take the time to make a post about it. A snap chat story only lasts for 24 hours, so you can make it new and unique every day! Snapchat is a great way for students to see and keep up with the events going on around campus

• Truman Snapchat Guidelines:
  • Story limit: Keep stories under 100 seconds for Normal day or “day in the life” posts, and under 200 seconds for special events.
• What to put on the snap chat story:
  • Normal day examples:
    • Images of campus on a nice day (buildings, trees, flowers, etc.)
    • The temperature on a nice or particular chilly day
    • Pictures of tables on the quad or in the SUB
    • Food/coffee/drinks from SUB or dining halls
    • Pictures of banners/posters
  • Sporting events:
    • Pictures of the sport itself
    • Pictures of the fans
    • Videos of the game or the fans
    • Pictures of the scoreboard
    • Pictures or videos of Spike
  • Special events: orientation, move in day, concerts, homecoming, greek week, Fireside Friday
    • Posters leading up to event
    • Set up
    • Videos of crowd cheering
    • Clips of event (part of a song/lip sync dance/comedian or speaker’s talk/etc.)
    • Pictures of incoming freshmen and/or parents on move in day and at orientation
  • What not to do:
    • Don’t send snaps to individuals
    • If you receive a snap from someone, don’t respond (unless it is part of the “questions” section)
    • Don’t include your personal life in the snaps (Ex: pictures of you and friends/in class, etc.)
    • Don’t post a picture or video of someone on the story without their permission (Unless it is more than 20 people or the person is unrecognizable)
    • Don’t post a picture without an explanation (For example, don’t post a picture of the quad without including something like, “It’s a beautiful day to be on the quad!”)
  • Video Vs. Picture
    • If it is something someone has to read, such as a banner, take a picture so it is steadier.
    • If it is a moving object (the fountain, a concert, a crowd) take a video. Make sure it is long enough for the viewers to know what the video is of.
  • Types of Snapchat events:
    • Giveaways (Tshirts, coffee, etc)
    • “day in the life” (different majors, professors, Paino, faculty, sports, organizations, etc)
    • Behind the scenes (SAB event setups, Sodexo kitchen, etc)
    • “Ask me anything” (AMA) (admissions counselor, Dr. Paino, students, etc)
    • Tour with ambassador
    • Footage from events on campus
    • Typical daily snaps