The Mobile Bandwagon

JANET GUAN
Copy Editor

High-speed Internet has made access to information easy to obtain with just the touch of a finger, allowing popular niches to be easily accessible. Mobile applications such as Snapchat and Flappy Bird are prime examples of online trends.

First launched in July 2011, Snapchat is now used by many teens and adults. What sets Snapchat apart from other social media applications is not its ability to document peoples lives as Facebook does, but rather a way in which snippets of people’s lives can be shared with owners retaining control. By allowing the viewer to see the picture or video as long as the sender allows, it provides a sense of security that other applications do not provide.

Flappy Bird, unlike Snapchat, differs in the way it allows others to interact. Launched in May 2013, the app skyrocketed into popularity in January 2014. As a one-player game, Flappy Bird allows people to challenge themselves in a sense to surpass their past scores.The need for exact timing frustrates those who expect it to be easy. Slight annoyance from the game’s difficulty contributes to Flappy Birds’ addictiveness, to the extent that creator Dong Nguyen has decided to take the game out of application stores. Even though the game can no longer be downloaded, knockoffs of the game exist, indicating Flappy Birds’ continued popularity.

Although each application’s purpose vary, both provide fun ways to connect with other people. Applications gain popularity as more people find similar interests.