App updates: for better and for worse?
March 21, 2018
Whether I’m walking during passing period or sitting in my classes, it seems like all the students at Diamond Bar High School chat about now are the various updates that Snapchat, Instagram and Twitter have recently undergone.
Despite these apps attempt to please users, I think I represent the majority of teenagers when I voice my dislike of the new updates, preferring the previous versions.
Snapchat made major changes in the layouts of stories and the friend list in early February, and for many, the app automatically updated with these changes without the user’s permission. For the most part, these changes were not for the better. My main problem is that I now can’t differentiate who sent me snaps and who posted on their stories.
However, I do enjoy the revamped styles of the Bitmojis as well as the addition of varying sizes and font options for the text, which lead to better expression and creativity among the snaps I send. I thought the revamped styles of the Bitmojis was the most interesting part of the update, since I can adjust even the most specific aspects of my avatar, like ear shape or face width. On the other hand, Instagram’s last big update received a neutral response from its users. The app added numerous type faces and backgrounds, which could be shared without first taking a picture or video.
I prefer the classic boomerang and photo options when updating my story instead of utilizing the new option. For me, the more annoying aspect of the new update is the new algorithm Instagram implemented to display posts in my feed, instead of the chronological order posts were displayed in previously.
This update claims to show users posts they want to see, but instead it just spams me with every post from a single user I just followed, no matter when the picture was posted, instead of recent posts from my friends.
Prior to the Snapchat and Instagram updates, Twitter led the way with their notable addition of the “Moments” feature. Although I don’t use this app, I can easily see why it is groundbreaking as it gives users the chance to express their thoughts without a 280-character limit. Now, users can piece together multiple tweets into a slideshow-esque format.
This change helps users, especially teenagers, keep up to date on the latest buzz—ranging from a scandalous breakup between two A-list stars to controversial current events.
