In a world flooded with messaging apps, the likes of SnapChat and Frankly have hit the sweet spot for the privacy-conscious user. Once viewed, text and video messages self-destruct within seconds. The disposable nature of these messages creates a sense of relief and security, knowing that your goofy selfies leave no trail of data. This presentation discusses how the user experience of these apps builds trust and creates a perception of ephemerality.

1. UX of Ephemeral Messaging
Hira Javed
UX/D Toronto Meetup
July 31, 2014

2. What is ephemeral messaging?
• Ephemeral: Something that is temporary
or has a brief existence.
• Ephemeral messages: Text, photo and
video messages which are deleted shortly
after they are read or viewed.

3. Who are the key players?
SnapChat
Bolt Mirage

4. Who is using these apps?

5. What attracts these users?
• Their parents are on Facebook and Twitter
so they’re looking for other platforms.
• Leaving a digital trail creates the possibility
that others may judge them.
• Temporary nature of these messages
means users don’t have to invest a lot of
time and thought on what they
communicate.

6. What attracts these users?
• Less effort means easy to share.
• Conversations are quick and frequent.
• Ephemeral messages try to recreate that
natural conversation feeling. Just like
having coffee with a friend, users don’t
have to worry about being recorded.

7. Designing the ephemeral
experience

8. Give users control over their
messages
• Option to select how long the messages
are visible for.
• Option to permanently delete or save
messages.
• Study conducted by Blink shows that users go
back and forth between keeping messages and
setting them to delete.
• Wickr also did a study and noticed the same
thing.

9. Frankly iOS app Frankly iOS app

11. Create a sense of ‘ephemerality’
• Tap to display
• Hold to record
• Time limit
•

12. Frankly iOS app SnapChat iOS app

13. Frankly iOS app
Glimpse iOS app

14. Prevent screenshots
• Message disappears while its being typed,
creating a very small window of
opportunity for the receiver to read it.
• Only swiping reveals message, preventing
screenshots.
• Inform the user when someone takes a
screenshot.

15. Glimpse iOS app Confide iOS app

16. Screenshot notification from SnapChat Screenshot notification from Wickr

17. Encourage conversations
• Option to add captions and drawing
capabilities allow users to add context to
visual messages.
• Asking users to reply back encourages
them to continue the conversation.

18. SnapChat iOS app SnapChat iOS app

19. Slingshot iOS app Slingshot iOS app

20. Be transparent
Frankly iOS app SnapChat iOS app

21. SnapChat iOS app Wickr iOS app

22. Wickr Mobile Website SnapChat iOS app

23. Frankly iOS app Wickr iOS app

24. Wickr iOS app

25. Frankly iOS app Wickr iOS app
Allow users to find their friends

26. Involve the parents if needed
• SnapChat Parent Guide
• Wickr – Users under the age of 13 require
parental consent
Wickr iOS app

27. Make it fun!
Slingshot iOS app SnapChat iOS app

28. Questions?