Snapchat: a self-erasing visual forum Jay Haendler

Staff Writer

Each and every day, thou-sands of people worldwide use a phone application dubbed “Snap-chat.” Recently developed, this application allows you to take a picture of anything and send it to anybody else who uses the ap-plication. What is unique about Snapchat is that the amount of time a picture can be viewed can be selected, between one and ten seconds, before it disappears per-manently.

When Stanford University student Evan Spiegel first came up with the idea in his business and design class, he was laughed at. People told him it was a dumb idea and that it would never become popular. That did not dissuade him; he worked all summer with co-founder Bobby Murphy to create the final product. For a long time it seemed as if the kids in his class were right. However, after Spiegel and Mur-phy finished the app, it became extremely popular among teenag-ers, especially when they started to

send each other funny pictures in class. The most common style of photos people usually send are em-barrassing pictures of themselves or others, and can sometimes be a bit on the dirty side. What people value most about this app is that they have reassurance that there will be no evidence left behind of what the picture was. The app al-lows people to relax and share mo-ments without the need to pose for a picture that many people may eventually see. “There are many upsides and

downsides to Snapchat, but by far the best thing about it is not having to worry about your picture being sent around for everybody to see,” sophomore Isabel Bareiss said. Some may think that this ap-plication is something that could help you get through the day, but Snapchat can also take your focus off of the teacher during class. “I like it because you can be stupid and funny with your friends, but it can be a huge distraction,” junior Leah Sottosanti said. One of the big downsides to Snapchat is that it can very eas-

ily be distracting to students in school. Not only does this applica-tion take away the users attention from class, but it can also distract fellow classmates. “Not having an iPhone or be-ing able to use Snapchat myself, the application even takes my at-tention if I am sitting near a stu-dent or friend who is currently us-ing it,” sophomore Steven Adams said. Snapchat’s popularity is still continuing to expand, making Evan Spiegel’s invention a big hit with current iPhone users.

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“It was the first official day at Westhill, my first day with the upperclassmen. As I was walking down the stairs in the Freshmen-Building an upperclassmen spat over the banister and it landed on my bare ankle. That was my first impression of Westhill.”

– Junior Erica Casinelli

“My freshman year of high school they wouldn’t let me be in honors science, I was really upset about it. I ended up in Mrs. Joseph’s Earth Science class. That year she got bit by a cat and taught us with an IV of antibiotics hanging from a rolling stand. Ironically, I became a science teacher.”

– Science teacher Mrs. Grant

“In middle school, people may steal your phone or iPod, but Westhill showed me a diferent side of thieving. I was thirsty so I went to grab the Sprite from my bag. Someone stole my Sprite and pen. I didn’t get why someone would steal a dollar soda and a 50-cent pen.”

– Freshman DaShawn McRae

Get the picture?

The youngest pope was 11. Newborn babies are given to the wrong mother in the hospital 12 times a day worldwide.

Laura Rey/ Photo Manager

Max Grabler / Staff WriterAva Marsh / Illustrator

Freshmen FreakoutsFreshman year is one of first impressions, change, and horror. The first year of high school impacts students for the rest of their lives. Here are

some of the trials and tribulations of freshmen this year and in years past as they got acclimated to high school life.

Students from left to right: Emmanuel Revange, Brianna Rende,Brad Smith, Alison Camillo, and Hannah Dougherty.