Social media is the backbone of a high schooler’s way of survival. From Instagram to TikTok, teenagers of today will scroll on their phones waiting to hop onto the latest trends. Last year’s internet craze, BeReal, has met its match with the invite-only disposable camera on Lapse.
The app was released as Journal in 2021 but relaunched last August with the branding of Lapse. It has continued to gain popularity since and topped the charts of the app stores over other long-running social media platforms like Snapchat.
I was first introduced to Lapse when I received an invite to join the platform from my brother. Opening the account was a struggle because it forces users to invite five friends to join the app, and to also install a widget on their phone to easily access the app.
Once you open the app, it takes you directly to the camera where you can take flash photos. But you can also switch to see a main viewing page of others’ posts, or you can click to see your own profile.
Besides the blatant marketing ploy, I enjoy this app in comparison to BeReal. It feels like a more personal way of social networking because you are not limited to a designated time period, and you can take multiple photos at a time.
I have found that retro trends continue to cycle back into modern-day interpretations; like the comeback of baggy jeans, I think that the simulation of a film camera is addictive. After taking a photo users have to wait 1-3 hours for the photos to “develop,” imitating the time it takes to develop real film.
Compared to BeReal, I enjoy not having the instantaneous result of my photos. It is a surprise to see your photos later colored with a green tinge and grainy filter.
Some users have found it bothersome, as you are unable to retake your photos at the moment, but I think this allows for more authentic photos. Even though not all of them come out perfect, you can decide to share the photos in a journal to your friends or to keep them for yourself.
Lapse makes the platform very customizable. You can add songs to your profile and make your own collages of photos. Friends on the app can comment and react to your photos with emojis, and there is a place to send direct messages to your friends.
Lapse fits right into the hearts of users with its robust take on a film camera, simplified into high-tech phone cameras.
