Nothing sparks the fire of interest like competition, and Snapchat nailed this in one of the app’s 2015 updates. Ever since Snapchat began keeping track of the number of consecutive days that people speak to each other, users have been trying to achieve the longest (or “highest”) streak on the Snapchat app.
The Snapchat development team knows that social media tools aren’t enough to hold that razor-sharp, public edge that has attracted millions of people to the popular app. Rather than simply allowing users to keep in touch with each other, Snapchat has been adding new and innovative ways for people to engage with each other on a regular basis. Sometimes, as is the case with “streaks,” people are flat-out encouraged to compete with each other for overlapping higher scores.
It makes for a very compelling experience, and with the rate that the app is updated with improvements and new features, Snapchatters aren’t going to run out of things to do with their friends anytime soon. This trend is only bolstered by the fact that Snapchat has such a trendy, young crowd making up the majority of its user base. What better a demographic to embrace and pursue competitive features like Snapchat streaks?
The fact that you can be rewarded for continuously Snapping the same people for as many days in a row as possible has put some users in a fervor of constant contacting, and for everyone in Snapchat, this is fantastic to watch. The persistence and eagerness (often accompanied with refreshing creativity) have almost certainly inspired more people to join in the fun, and more yet to simply start using Snapchat so that they can learn what all of the fuss is about.
There’s only one unfortunate circumstance in all of this: there currently is not any type of implemented scoreboard that allows you to see other peoples’ Snap streaks! However, this isn’t purely a negative thing, since it has also prompted users to take to the web, boasting their Snap streaks with accompanying screen-grabs to serve as proof. Think of it as an “underground” Snapchat competition that has only fueled more excitement overall for Snapchat!
However, even though there’s no internal scoring mechanism, you can still collect your fair share of symbolic rewards through contact list emojis and trophy case awards. Many of them are symptomatic–one thing leads to another, and pretty soon you’re accomplishing goals you didn’t even know you had and earning rewards you didn’t even know existed.
Let’s talk about Snapchat streaks, and then illuminate some of the surprising ways that upping your Snap streaks can benefit your overall Snapchat use.
What Are Snapchat Streaks?
Put simply, Snapchat streaks are representative of how many days in a row you’ve Snapped a single person. You can have more than one streak going on at a time, of course, but the highest streaks–the ones that the internet is fascinated with–are from the person you’ve Snapped the most often.
There’s excitement and tension in equal quantities, especially as that streak number starts to climb higher and higher. Miss a day? Too bad! The streak has ended and you’re back at square one. Persistence is key, and having a Snapchatter to Snap at who’s just as excited about streak scoring as you are can take you a long distance.
Increasing Your Streaks
This may seem like a simple topic to handle, but the truth of the matter is, getting someone on board with Snapchat streaks is difficult. It requires the persistent dedication of two people for days on end, and if you want to compete with some of the current records, you’re going to need to exceed 300 or more days! Some have been Snapping since this feature went live.
If you want to get started, the time is now! However, before you get started, here are a few tips that you can practice beforehand that will keep your streak train on its rails:
- Plan your Snapstreaks ahead of time! You’ll want a buddy for this and not someone who’s only casually invested. After all, if either of you miss a day, that puts the nix on your chances of getting an exceptionally high streak!
- Don’t wait to Snap. If you’re rocking a particularly good Snapstreak, hop to it as soon as you can during the day. Whether it’s your 9-5 or a busy weekend, it’s easy to let something like a Snap slip through the cracks of your day. After all, you’d hate to disappoint your new Snapstreak buddy, wouldn’t you?
- Get more than one Snapstreak buddy! Look, Snapping is a fairly easy thing to do. On top of that, it’s fun. So, what’s to stop you from building a record-breaking Snapstreak with more than one person at a time? After all, if you can round up enough dedicated people, it will increase your chances of pulling a higher streak!
Maintaining Your Streaks
Getting a plan rolling for your Snapstreaks is only the first step; keeping them rolling is going to require some rigorous mental endurance and stalwart reminders that you owe your fellow Snapchatters some attention!
As of this post, the update that introduced Snapstreaks and the new friend emoji system is 379 days old and counting. This means that the earliest adopters of the new system could potentially have a streak that’s 379 days long, though I certainly haven’t found anyone claiming to have done it, yet.
This sort of dedication will require commitment on your part, and part of that commitment to the longest and highest Snapstreak is going to mean taking some extra precautions. Set reminders for yourself if you have to, and encourage your fellow Snapchatters that are sharing in this mission to do the same!
Additionally, in order to keep your Snapchat experience from stagnating, take advantage of your current day-to-day lifestyle! Nobody gets encouraged through a boring Snap, and so try to time your Snaps during the most lively portion of your day.
The Longest Snapchat Streaks
As I said before, it’s very difficult to figure out “who is in the lead,” so to speak. Even though the gamification of Snapchat’s features is so prevalent, there’s still not a leaderboard that will tell you who has the longest streak. That said, people online sure are eager to talk about it. Here’s a slightly-aged Reddit thread where users chimed in with their own streaks on a regular basis.
In truth, these kinds of conversations are everywhere! All that you’ll have to do is look for them. You can even keep an eye on that “highest potential Streak” number so that you can constantly compare your own once you get started.
Don’t be intimated by people who’ve been at it longer! Remember that all it takes is one day, one slip-up from one of those people with the highest Snapstreak and they’re back to square one, again. Give it some time and effort with one or more of your Snapchat buddies, and you could be higher on that hypothetical list than you currently realize!
What Do I Get Out of This?
It wouldn’t be true gamification if there wasn’t an associated reward, and Snapchat has covered its bases by adding several. The first that you’ll see (and read about, if you’ve been looking into Snapstreaks) is the new friend emoji system that was added to the app at the same time as streaks. You’ll receive different emoji based on the levels of interaction that you have with people on your contact list, which is in itself a game that many enjoy.
Your contact list will always show you when you’re on a streak since it’s always tracking your interaction between your friends. That little flame emoji, above? That’s your Snapstreak indicator, and it’s always going to be accompanied by a number that lets you know how long your streak has been going strong.
That cleverly-red “100” emoji? You’ve guessed right if you’re thinking that you earn exactly that when a Snapstreak hits 100.
The Trophy Case
The benefits don’t end with your contact list, either. If you’ve paid any attention to Snapchat’s recently-added trophy case feature, you’ll notice that there are all kinds of rewards to earn through regular use of the app’s many features.
If you’re currently Snapping every day while chasing a Snapstreak, then you definitely should try to earn a few trophies while you’re at it.
This ties right back into one of my above recommendations: that you diversify your Snaps as much as possible in the interest of keeping them fresh, engaging, and fun. Are you applying filters to your Snaps? There’s a trophy! Two filters? There’s another trophy!
Are you using your front-facing camera to take most of your Snaps? Do it 1000 times to get a trophy! How about the extreme temperate filters, when your phone’s data indicates that it’s below-freezing or higher than 100 degrees Fahrenheit? You guessed it; trophy again!
The list could go on and on, but if you’re using the many features given to you when construction Snaps for your Snapstreak, you stand a chance to reap a lot more rewards!
Some argue that gamification keeps people unnecessarily coming back to the same experience over and over, but each time you return to Snapchat, it definitely doesn’t have to be the same experience. This is why Snapstreaks can be fun, and why striving to get one of the highest and longest streaks is a challenge that so many Snapchatters are embracing!