Stories have been a key part of social media since 2013---but what's Our Story on Snapchat? Introduced in 2015, Our Story appears to have a similar functionality as My Story, but adding a Snap to Our Story is actually very different.
So what's the difference between My Story and Our Story? How do you use Our Story? And is it safe to do so?
What's the Difference Between "Our Story" and "My Story"?
You can add images and videos to My Story in the same way you send them to contacts. However, anything you add to My Story is viewable for 24 hours and can be seen by everyone on your friends list.
What's Our Story? Whereas Snapchat has traditionally focused on private conversations, this feature adds to the wider community. Our Story consists of curated content related to location.
Want to see pictures someone has uploaded in your town? How about videos of local landmarks? Or find folk celebrating walking up a particularly steep mountain nearby? Our Story is perfect for all of those.
Any content added to Our Story can be viewed on Snap Map, as well as third-parties. Snapchat enthuses that this could mean your Snap is shared "on the jumbotron while you're at a game". Our Story Snaps can be forwarded on through texts and emails too.
Stories are regulated by Snapchat staff, ensuring content isn't offensive.
This is in contrast to My Story, which can't be easily shared. You'll even be notified if anyone screenshots My Story.
How Do You View "Our Story" on Snapchat?
To see other people's content, just navigate to the Discover page on Snapchat; to the right of the main screen. Alternatively, check out the Snap Map in your profile or by swiping down on the main screen. You must have location-based services enabled.
If this makes you uncomfortable, learn how to turn off your location on Snapchat.
You can also search in the app using the field at the top of the Camera screen. Looking for content related to a location can result in loads of hits.
How Do You Use "Our Story" on Snapchat?
Take a Snap or video as you normally would: Open the app to its main screen and capture content by tapping or holding down the large middle button on your interface. Click on the blue arrow to the bottom-right of your screen to send this on.
You can send it to any contacts, but above your friends list, you'll see My Story and Our Story. When you click on Our Story, Snapchat will tell you that you're intending to, "Add to the Map and Stories on Discover".
You can also click on your profile at the top-left of the Camera screen and click Add to Our Story.
Make your content creative and interesting but not risqué as Snapchat staff won't approve anything NSFW.
Memories and images from your Camera Roll can't be added to Our Story either.
What Are "Live Stories" on Snapchat?
Live Stories are curated by Snapchat during major events.
If you're experiencing something monumental that Snapchat is creating a Live Story about, you can add to it by using the above method of creating content for Our Story. Under the Our Story contact, it will list a particular Live Story you're adding to.
You need to make sure your filters are turned on.
Who Can See "Our Story" on Snapchat?
Anyone with location-based services enabled can see what's added to Our Story, and more besides.
You can view the Snap Map online, meaning anyone can browse their locality, their country, or anywhere else in the world.
What Are "Campus Stories" on Snapchat?
Campus Stories are a kernel of Our Story, applying the same idea to select educational institutions. Students add Snaps and videos based on the college campus, which can then be seen by anyone visiting the site.
You'll see them if you've been on a campus in the last 24 hours. It's a neat way of adding to the student community, but could be used for insidious purposes too. Don't share any personal details, or indeed anything you wouldn't want strangers seeing, like where you live.
Can You Save or Delete "Our Story" Snaps on Snapchat?
Yes, you can save or delete what you've added to Our Story. Deleting Snaps, however, means erasing it from the app. There's no guarantee it's not been shared elsewhere, like third-party apps.
Open your profile and tap on the cog icon at the top-right of your screen. Next, tap "Our Story Snaps": the symbol with the arrow pointing to an in-tray saves the Snap to Memories, while the trash icon deletes it.
The latter deletes your selected content from Search and Snap Map.
Can You See Who Views "Our Story" on Snapchat?
No. Otherwise, if your Snaps are popular, you'd be overwhelmed with notifications (and maybe alerted to screenshots!).
That's why you need to bear in mind that anything added to Our Story can be seen by anyone---your family, friends, neighbors, tutors, and even complete strangers.
Don't add anything you wouldn't be happy literally anyone seeing. Remember these simple tips for keeping Snapchat secure.
Is "Our Story" a Risk to Your Security?
Our Story balks at what Snapchat is traditionally used for. In that way, it breaches your privacy. However, you are actively allowing Snaps to be shared widely, so it's only as much a risk to your security as other social media apps such as Twitter.
We should reiterate that you can delete anything you add to Our Story too.
But there's a caveat to that. Our Story can be shared online, and Snapchat can't guarantee that content on the Stories and Snap Map sections of its sites will also disappear once deleted from the app. The same is true when Stories are shared by email, SMS, copied links, and on messaging apps.
The bonus is that you can let family and friends who don't have Snapchat see your Snaps. The bad news is that anyone else can check it out too.
When used properly, it's safe.
Building a Community With Our Story
Our Story isn't in line with what Snapchat was created for. Nonetheless, it's an interesting and worthwhile idea, arguably making the world a smaller place.
But if the notion unsettles you, don't use it. And if that's the case, you might want to ask yourself whether Snapchat is really right for you.
Image Credit: AdamPrzezdziek/ Flickr