One of the main selling points of the Snapchat app is that the pictures and videos you post are temporary. In other words, they are deleted as soon as someone else sees them. So, little Snaps over time are here today and gone tomorrow – or are they?
Snapchat claims to have deleted the photos, but are they stored elsewhere? More importantly, does Snapchat own and save the photos you post? If they do, it will give them copyright on all your content, which some users might see as a deal breaker.
Snapchat Doesn’t Own Your Media
Let’s start with the answer to the most pressing question. No, Snapchat does not own any of the photos, videos or messages you post using their app.
When the famous app updated its privacy policy in 2015, that’s when the rumors started circulating. Everything from “Snapchat saves your photos” to “they can do whatever they want with your content” has created buzz on the internet.
But since then Snapchat has come out to say these rumors aren’t true. The good news is that your stories are still yours. Moreover, they are still personal and semi-private.
Why semi-private? That’s because Snapchat’s policies state that it reserves the right to use Live Stories, including replaying or putting them together. But you already knew this because they asked for permission in their previous privacy policy.
What are Live Stories?
If you’re new to Snapchat, you might be wondering what Live Stories are and how to use them.
Snapchat Live Stories are Snaps posted by users who attended a certain event or visited certain places. It provides a specific snapshot of a person’s life through live stories, pictures and videos. Unlike your Personal Story timelines, this content is submitted and selected by Snapchat employees.
Think of them as the directors and you as the head of programming with the ultimate say. They pick and choose the appropriate one to publish as Live Stories. Other users can then click on these updates and see a glimpse of (possibly) strangers’ lives. It’s like reality TV as it should be.
Content is subject to change when it comes to Live Stories, and posts are strictly at the discretion of the Snapchat staff. Therefore, they are addicted to Snapchat’s whims.
While some people may enjoy posting their Live Stories on this public forum, this is where the Privacy Policy gets a little sticky. As you send your images/videos to staff to review and post to the public, they can choose to replay or affiliate your stories around the world.
How to Watch Live Stories
Watching Live Stories is simple. To check them, follow these steps:
Step 1 – Access Snapchat
First you need to open the Snapchat app. Just tap the icon from your home screen to open the app.
Step 2 – Access Live Stories
Next, swipe left from your Snapchat home screen. This gives you access to Live Stories, Stories and Discover functionality. If you have any Live Stories to view, you can view them here.
Finally, to watch Live Stories, simply tap one to view it.
Sometimes a feature called Story Explorer is accessible from certain Live Stories. Using it can provide more information, highlighting or appearance for that particular event or location. Swipe up in Live Story to access Story Explorer.
How to Contribute to Live Stories
Contributing to your own Snaps really depends on being in the right place at the right time. If you think you’re at an event that Snapchat will be interested in, such as a sporting event or an important political event, you can post your Snap on “Live Stories”.
If it’s a qualifying event, you may receive a notification asking if you agree to have Snapchat curate your Snap and make that Snap publicly viewable. This does not automatically guarantee that your Snap will be featured. However, it does notify you that your Snap has basically become Snapchat property by sending it.
final thought
Snapchat has since revised the wording of this updated Privacy Policy, which has thrown everyone into an uproar. It no longer states that they can keep any image you upload as their own. However, this is still not the case with Live Stories.
So if you’re not ready for the world to see you at an event, you should think twice about posting that Snap on Snapchat. After all, you were sick that day. Does your boss need proof that you really lied to attend a football game?
