Snapchat is an instant messaging and social networking app that stands out from competing apps like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram. It is one of the most popular apps used by teens and young adults today to tell their friends what they are doing and to chat back and forth.

If you're new to Snapchat, check out the following roundups and links to get an idea of how to capitalize on some of the biggest Snapchat trends.

First, download the latest version of Snapchat to make sure you have all the latest features. Once you’ve created your account, add some friends, either manually or by scanning their snapcodes. If you like watching stories, add some of the big brands on Snapchat too.

Now it's time to chat back and forth with your friends by taking photos and videos or posting your photo and video snaps to your story. The more you snap with friends, the higher your Snapchat score will be.