STAFF WRITER: SOPHIE MACHESKY

trends and fads in social media apps

Social trends come and go, but will this one stick?

The core social media applications used daily by smartphone owners have been Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and TikTok. Arguably, these applications are used the most by consumers on a daily basis. Other than these regularly checked and updated apps, there have been many others that come and go in terms of popularity and regular usage. 

Last year, a trendy app used by millions was BeReal. Here, users would be notified at various times during the day, urging them to take a photo at that very moment. This encouraged users to authenticate themselves in the realm of social media. Without filters or a buffer of time to get ready for the camera, the purpose of BeReal is to do just that- “be real.”

I personally never downloaded this app. Although I love the concept, I just never found the time to make an account. I also didn’t know of anyone else that was using the app, so my posting on it seemed useless.

Now, it seems like the users of BeReal have been on a decline. According to data derived from an application intelligence firm, “Apptopia,” the number of BeReal users from October 2022 to February 2023 had almost halved, from 20 million daily active users to 10.4 million. It appears that using BeReal was just a fad that people got tired of. What was once seen as a unique mode of sharing personal moments with peers may have turned into a daily task, or maybe users were worried about what their followers thought. Whatever the reason may be, BeReal isn’t as popular as it once was.

a new take on social media

There is a new trend now. An app used by many college-aged students called “Lapse” has been spreading in local areas. Here, at Penn State Fayette, the Eberly Campus, there are many users adding each other as friends. But, what is Lapse, and why is it now growing in popularity?

Our Managing Editor, Noelle Bodenheimer, introduced me to Lapse a few weeks ago. It is an app that acts as a disposable camera. Users take photos that (unlike BeReal) take a while to develop. After the photo is developed, users are able to either archive, delete, or share the image with friends. “Sharing” images is similar to posting it on a feed, like on Instagram. The photos then appear like film photos with a beautiful, natural filter on them. Users are also able to create albums and personalize their accounts with photos from their camera rolls, their favorite emojis, and music that they think fit their page. 

This app is invite only, so users, unfortunately, are incapable of making an account if they don’t know of someone that already has it. Because Noelle invited me, I was able to make an account. Then, before you can use the app’s services, you have to share it with five friends of your own. There are a few introductions, then you’re free to begin capturing photos.

is lapse worth the download?

I downloaded Lapse at the end of September, so I haven’t had it for too long, but I have found myself using it constantly. Especially with autumn leaves beginning to change, I want to be taking pictures of everything. Users have to wait about an hour for their photos to develop, and honestly, I find myself looking forward to it. It’s almost like taking a mental photo then being able to review it later on. 

Included at the end of this article are images that I’ve taken and added to my album titled “Autumn.” I find myself taking pictures every chance I get, then uploading them to this album when they develop. I feel happy in the moment, but I’ll also have a memory later on of these beautiful events I was privileged to capture.

If you have the opportunity to use Lapse, I highly recommend it. It’s a great feeling to take pictures on your phone as if it were a disposable camera. But, is it a trend or a fad? Maybe it depends on the person, but I think I will continue to use Lapse on a regular basis. As I previously mentioned, it feels like I receive a gift when I get the notifications that the photos have developed. Share your thoughts with us in the comments below. If you do or don’t have Lapse downloaded, do you think it will be a trend or a fad? 

Photos from @soapysophie on “Lapse.”