Text Messaging Featured Article

In the world of communications, text messaging opens up new opportunities for the instant exchange of information. For most users, the temptation to leave a text unread or unanswered is more than we can bear. At the same time, text messages sent without thought could creep back up to haunt you in the future. Is there a better way?

The answer has been found by many in Snapchat. The instant exchange of information is still there, along with an image and the ability to erase it forever. In fact, the erasure takes place without provocation, leaving nothing to chance. So powerful is this platform for users that Facebook (News - Alert) wanted it – and offered $3 billion in cash to get it.

But the sheer popularity of the app made this offer seem a little on the stingy side and it was refused. The rapid pace at which kids are using Snapchat demonstrates its staying power. A recent Forbes post highlighted how it is quickly outpacing Instagram. As Facebook continues to try and dominate the social media playing field, any application with teeth is going to grab the giant’s attention.

Snapchat actually does something that Facebook cannot do – provide users with the ability to share a story without everyone in their social network watching. While this sounds like the opposite of what draws us to these networks in the first place, it’s also why young people have fled Facebook in the past few years. Too many companies and older users came on board and fixed their prying eyes on the activities of the participating teen – not generally welcomed by any young person.

This appealed to Facebook in a big way. Many of its young users fled to Instagram and those same users are now fleeing en masse to Snapchat. This is a significant demographic with considerable buying power – one Facebook would really like to have access to, exclusively. They made the Instagram purchase in September of 2012 for one third of what they’re willing to pay for Snapchat. This alone signifies that Snapchat has something bigger and better to offer.

Such demand for a fleeting messaging tool doesn’t mean that channels like text messaging are disappearing. Instead, the art of sharing instant messages is changing. Forbes suggests Snapchat is a huge success for several reasons, including the fact that it’s exclusively mobile; its regular user engagement, traction, growth curve and momentum; the age of the audience and the size of the market; the User Generated Network Effect; and the fact that it sells itself.

The rate at which usage of this application is growing is staggering, which is what makes it worth so much more than $3 billion. The audience is willing and ready to cooperate with the direction the company is going just by the sheer attraction of the app. The next phase will be an exciting one to watch.