Recently the common cellphone application, Snapchat, was hacked. This caused a leakage of millions of people’s usernames and phone numbers, but that is not all that can get out. Many teenagers use snapchat as an easy way to send scandalous photos to one another, but if the snaps are sent and not looked at right away, they can be opened in the system, meaning your pictures can be looked at and your account can be hacked.

At the turn of the new year, Snapchat faced a problem with hackers who broke into approximately 4.6 million accounts, obtaining personal information like phone numbers  and usernames.

“This keeps you more alert of what you put on snapchat,” junior Nick Hook said.  “The fact that Snapchat can be hacked into is a pretty serious problem.”

Snapchat allows the ability to send a picture that can be only viewed for a few seconds before being deleted. The truth is, however, that these pictures can be seen in the system before being viewed. If a revealing snapchat is not viewed, it can be in the snapchat system for up to 30 days.

According to an article in The Guardian, Snapchats are not deleted at all; they are just hidden. That means that they can be found and seen again.  This means any picture you send could come back to haunt you in the future. The article only stated that this happens on Androids, but that does not mean that if you have an iPhone you are safe.

“I think that this is pretty scary, especially because everyone uses Snapchat,” junior Cassidy Tabor said. “Snapchat is one of the biggest apps out there right now.”

Snapchat claims that none of their workers would ever look at your unopened pictures, but would a hacker?  Not too long ago, a Snapchat update gave us a new way to share our lives, introducing the “my story” addition. Teens sometimes get carried away with how much they show on their Snapchat stories, which can be viewed for 24 hours.

“It is a little bit of a concern that your private pictures can be hacked into if not opened. If people are doing inappropriate things, then that could affect getting into a college or getting a job,” junior Jenna Forrester said. “I think that Snapchat needs to make sure that their app is safe, but I also think people need to use it properly and it would not be such a big deal.”

Snapchats can also be seen by police who have warrants with reason to suspect. Those pictures would not look very good when your stories consist of your partying with friends.

People are beginning to realize that Snapchat is not as “private” as it seems. The fact that Snapchat can be hacked and pictures can be viewed will make many think twice before sending the next scandalous snap.