The latest Snapchat hints and tips

On the face of it, Snapchat is a pretty simple app. You can take photos to share with your friends. But, dig a little deeper, and Snapchat actually lets you do a whole lot more. You can customise pictures, add effects, see what’s happening around you, and keep up with all the latest world news. Here are a few Snapchat tips and tricks to help you get the most out of the app.

Shoot 60-second clips

You used to only be able to record 10-second video clips on Snapchat. Well, not anymore. You can now record up to 60-seconds of footage by holding down the record button for up to a minute. Snapchat splits the footage into six 10-second segments for easier editing, but don’t worry, once you share the clip, it will play as a continuous 60-second Snapchat story.

Send stories to your friends

Snapchat’s Discover section lets you catch up on the latest news and current affairs stories from around the world. Seen something you like? Then share it with your friends directly on WhatsApp, Instagram, Twitter, or their Snapchat.

Create your own Geofilter

Create your own Geofilter tags to let people know where you are, and what’s going on around you. Set which locations you want to appear, and create Geofilters to mark cities, landmarks, and even personal events like weddings and birthdays.

See where your friends are with Snap Map

Snap Map lets you see where your Snapchat friends and other Snapchat users are near you, or in other locations around the world. Access it by pinching the camera screen. If the feature’s not for you, you can hide yourself from fellow users by activating Ghost Mode.

Discover and share music

Snapchat has built-in Shazam skills, so next time you hear a song you like, just tap on the camera screen, and hold down to identify any song playing nearby. You can even share the song with your mates.

Find out what those message symbols mean

If you’re a new user, Snapchat can be tricky to grasp. For example, you’ll probably be wondering what some of the coloured arrows next to messages mean. From the Manage Preferences menu, you can see what each one does. Unopened messages are indicated by squares, and arrows mean a Snap has been viewed.

And those emoji symbols

The Manage Preferences menu also lets you find out what those emojis next to your friends mean. A sunglasses-wearing emoji indicates mutual best buddies, while hearts mean your number one best friend (the person you Snapchat the most).

Know of any more tips we’ve missed? Let us know about them in the comments section.