Is Snapchat Good or Bad?

When I was 10 years old my parents allowed me to download Snapchat. I was about to go into middle school and I was one of the last people in my grade to get social media. I remember being so excited because I could finally be added to group chats and start snap streaks with my friends. The first few years of my being Snapchat active were bright and shiny. I ran wild with it. I think I made a group chat for every single random group of people I ended up hanging out with. 

I have always been the type of person who feels the need to be involved and liked by everyone. This was especially true when I was younger. I had a huge fear of missing out so I would push myself into groups to an almost annoying point. Snapchat helped me feel like I was missing out less. For that reason I grew pretty dependent on it. At the time I absolutely loved this but looking back I don't think it was a good thing.

Once I got to high school Snapchat started to take a different turn. I don't know if it was just because I was older but I started to become scared of it. I didn't like that people could look me up and add me randomly because I wasn't mature enough to just immediately block them. I got myself into some situations that were less than ideal. It's hard to know at such a young age whose intentions are good.

Now I feel like I have a better grasp on who I should let into my life through Snapchat. I am also far less addicted to it. A lot of me wishes that I hadn’t had access to it at such a young age. I think I would have been able to develop better ways of being alone. Even now some days I wish I could bring myself to delete it. Sadly it is so far ingrained into society and my life that I don't think I ever could.