In my first project I ended up using Snapchat. When you turn on the filters with your front camera you are able to choose from a variety of different faces, ears, or other cool designs once it recognizes your face. On some, it works with multiple faces being on the screen telling you to “Try With A Friend”. For my project I tested it out what would happen if I went up to people I have never even met before asking them to be the 2nd face instead of using an actual friend of mine to see if Snapchat be could encourage a complete stranger to be my “friend” for this picture and maybe an add on the app. After the picture I would then introduce myself and ask for their name.
Despite what I thought, people mainly responded very positively to me coming up to them with absolutely no context whatsoever and asking them to take a picture with me. Some were prepared to even hold conversation with me afterwards and seemed very at ease with Three of them even agreed to add me one snapchat even though I didn’t know them. The range of locations go from people I meet on the street, to some of my classes, restaurants, and even the Arc just to test out if the location could maybe factor into as well.There was only one person out of the group of people I asked that denied my request and funny enough that was the one that was found on the street. That hurt my feelings but its okay. Some people (like Jack in the given photo and one other girl who is not represented) gave me questioning looks at first but after a smile and maybe a “please?” they confidently agreed to take it with great smiles! This shows that the use of Snapchat justifies an social interaction where the parties involved know nothing about each other. What aspect of snapchat makes people think I’m not some creep wanting to get a picture of them to keep? Is it the filters? Would it have been different if I had just used my camera app? Do the words “filter” and “friend” actually compliment each other?