Last year’s biggest tech snub was Snapchat CEO and co-founder Evan Spiegel’s decision to turn down a $3 billion acquisition offer from Facebook. Some said it’s a disastrous decision for the app that has popularised self-destructing photo messages. Not quite. Evan and his men have just taken Snapchat to a new high with the introduction of two new features –– instant messaging and video calls. Here’s how it works...

First, what’s Snapchat?

You can take a picture or a short video and send it to your friends. But the message comes with a timer –– one to 10 seconds –– after which it auto-destructs from the recipient’s phone. The feature indirectly encourages sexting, which involves exchange of explicit images. The app’s developers have denied the charge.

When was it launched?

In September 2011. On May 1, 2014 Snapchat announced that users send 700 million photos and videos each day!

What’s new?

Until the launch of the messaging and video call service, users had to switch between apps and that’s tedious. Evan recently told The New York Times: “If I’m walking around and want to show you something, why do I have to switch apps? It stops the conversation and makes it a transaction, rather than free-flowing.” To use the features, update Snapchat. And before you do that, go through your unread messages. Once updated, look up your contact list and anybody who has sent you a text message will have a blue bubble next to his/her name. To video chat, keep your finger on the blue “video” icon. As long as you have your finger on the icon, two people can video chat. Nothing gets saved.

Why aren’t the features working?

Snapchat is slowly rolling out the new features.

Are there any celebrities on Snapchat?

Yes, there are and you can add them to your list if you have their usernames. But what are the chances of the actual Rihanna sharing her username with us?!

What do you like/ dislike about Snapchat? Tell t2@abp.in