A friend and I got into a debate recently that stuck with me: Should you delete Snapchat once you graduate? It sounds like a small question, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized it’s really about something bigger: how we hold onto the past versus making room for the future.
Snapchat was basically built for high school. The streaks, the group chats, the stories from Friday night – it all thrives in an environment where you see the same 300 people every day. So what happens when that world dissolves?
The case for keeping it is real. If your closest friends are scattered across different colleges or cities, Snapchat can feel like a lifeline. Quick photo updates, low-pressure check-ins, and the casual intimacy of a snap can actually maintain friendships that might otherwise fade into a once-a-year “happy birthday” text. For many people, it’s simply where their people are. YLHS student Izzy Chao (12) said, “I actually text my friends on Snap more than anywhere else.”
The case for leaving it behind is just as strong, though. Studies have consistently linked heavy social media use to increased anxiety and social comparison, and Snapchat’s design is particularly good at triggering both. Watching your high school peers’ highlight reels while you’re navigating the messy reality of a new chapter in your life can quietly chip away at your confidence. There’s also the streak culture to consider: maintaining a number for the sake of maintaining it is not the same thing as actually keeping a friendship alive. “I’ve found that maintaining streaks actually becomes annoying over time,” said Kasey Loseman (12).
There’s also the question of identity. High school is one version of you. College, a gap year, a first job – those are new chapters that often call for new habits. Starting fresh doesn’t mean abandoning your friendships; it might just mean nurturing them in ways that are a little more intentional.
My honest take? It’s less about the app and more about how you use it. If Snapchat genuinely helps you stay close to the people who matter, keep it. But if it mostly makes you feel like you’re still stuck in high school when you should be moving forward, it might be worth asking whether the streak is really worth it. Graduation is a rare chance to be intentional about what you carry with you. Your real friendships will survive the transition, with or without a snap.
