8. Implications
This exploratory study sought to flesh out the perceived influence
of Snapchat on young adults' family, social, and romantic relationships.
Snapchat, along with other social technologies (Yang
et al., 2014), are perceived to play important roles in contemporary
young adult interpersonal relationships. Social media applications
share common features, but are also distinguished from
each other in specific ways. In this study young adults highlighted
what they perceived to be the specific capabilities (e.g., images
disappear in seconds, the best friends feature, notification if a recipient takes a screen shot, drawing/writing on pictures) and use
(e.g., within close relationships, a possible step in the relationship
formation process, a tool to enhance existing relationships) of
Snapchat in their interpersonal relationships. It is unclear if some of
these capabilities and uses can also be attributed to other social
media applications that young adults implement in their interpersonal
relationships. To further distinguish the unique capabilities
and influence of Snapchat, we recommend that researchers
concurrently investigate the role of several popular social media
apps at once using a U&G framework. We also encourage future
longitudinal research to better understand and provide validity for
the proposition that there is a sequence to technology use as young
adult interpersonal relationships develop. A longitudinal approach
would allow for identification of how technology is used in relational
formation processes and in the maintenance of young adult
relationships overtime