Snapchat is a photo messaging application developed by four Stanford students. Using the app, users can take photos, record videos, add text and drawings, and send them to a controlled list of recipients. Users set a time limit for how long recipients can view their photos, up to 10 seconds, after which it will be deleted from the recipient's device and the company's servers.

During the duration of the viewing period, the recipient must maintain contact with the device's touchscreen which inhibits taking a screenshot (which is allowed) and also notifies the sender if the recipient were to take a screenshot. After the set time expires, the image is deleted from the devices and the company's servers.

Snapchat can find the user's friends through the user's smart phone contact list.