A few years ago when I was in DC for work, I bought a fancy Madewell dress. It's a fantastic dress that I still wear. It's white with navy stripes that alternate between horizontal and vertical, a zipper that runs the length of the dress, and pockets. It is a great dress that I have worn a million times.
Last summer, both Target and Old Navy made knock-offs of this dress. They used a cheaper material, left out the pockets and the zipper, but to the untrained eye, it looks like the same dress.
I am continually frustrated with Old Navy's blatant reproduction of Madewell products, but this dress was especially frustrating because most of the people I saw wearing it could have bought the Madewell dress. Every time I saw someone in the knock-off dress I wanted to scream, "There is a better version of this dress available to you!"
This is how I feel about Instagram Stories. Instagram Stories is the Merona of Snapchat.
While Snapchat has been around since 2012, I didn't start using it until earlier this year. Like everyone else, I thought it was for ::eggplant emoji:: pics and I didn't have a need for those in my life. But then two things happened, I started getting into Periscope, and I got invited to a Snapchat webinar for political consultants.
I loved Periscope, but it drained my phone battery and no one I know used it, so I switched to Snapchat. Because I am a forty year old woman, I had to teach myself how to use Snapchat. I read a bunch of how-to articles and watched tutorials (hosted by eleven year olds). Once I figured out how to turn my face into a dog, I was hooked. And don't even get me started on that one day you could turn yourself into a taco. Some of my best work to date is a product of that illustrious Taco Bell filter.
audience: 100 million+ daily active users
8 billion+ daily videos
I'm curious how these stats have changed since the launch of Instagram Stories. A large percentage of the people I follow on Snapchat have left for Instagram Stories, which is frustrating because: A) I understand their decision, but B) I'm disappointed in them for not sticking with the better app.What I like about Snapchat is it's funny. If you know me, and like me, you will probably love me on Snapchat. It's the most "me" I am on any social media platform. Snapchat is meant to be self-expressive and ephemeral, e.g. real life in the moment. And Snapchat provides you a real funny way to do that.
When I joined Snapchat, my favorite user was Birchbox. They snapped all day from their office, showing everyone's desks and what their favorite makeup products are. And they would give the account over to different employees for the day to show how they got ready at home and what products they used, etc. It was genius. I bought so much makeup during this time. But they've left Snapchat for Facebook Live and Instagram Stories. And it makes me very sad.
Same with artist, Dallas Clayton. I LOVED his Snaps, but he moved to Instagram Stories. I've watched both Dallas and Birchbox's Stories, but it's just not the same. For one, Instagram Stories eats up my phone battery, and two, the videos pause to load a lot (A LOT) and it's aggravating. Also, there are no filters or geotags, which is the piece de resistance of Snapchat. What are you even doing if you can't turn your face into a vomiting edamame?
Aidy Bryant
Username: @AIDYBRYANT
Andy Cohen
Username: @AndyCohen
Birchbox
Username: @Birchbox
Franchesca Ramsey
Username: @chescaleigh
Chrissy Teigen
Username: @ChrissyTeigen
Cory Booker
Username: @CoryBooker
Dj Khaled
Username: @DjKhaled
Hillary Clinton
Username: @HillaryClinton
Jen Gotch
Username: @JenGotch
Jeni Britton Bauer
Username: @jenibrittonbauer
Joel Strong
Username: @joelstrong
Joy the Baker
Username: @joythebaker
Kim Kardashian
Username: @KimKardashian
Laverne Cox
Username: @LaverneCox
Leslie Jones
Username: @LesDogggg
Michelle Obama
Username: @michelleobama
Paris Hilton
Username: @ParisHilton
Retta
Username: @Retta
Smitten Kitchen
Username: @SmittenKitchen
The New York Times
Username: @TheNewYorkTimes
The White House
Username: @TheWhiteHouse
Warby Parker
Username: @WarbyParker
My fear is that I'm on the wrong side of this argument and will have to begrudgingly make the switch to Instagram Stories - a cheap knock-off of a quality app. But for now, I remain a Snapchat loyalist. Follow me at: theblondemule.
To be begrudgingly continued. Probably.
P.S. I've noticed (no judgment) that a lot of you have forgotten how to repost pictures in Instagram.
P.P.S. Don't forget, you can hire me if you need helping managing your social media.
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