As a consultant who assists small and medium businesses, I often get asked about using Snapchat to promote products or services. Many entrepreneurs want to know if they can secretly view Snapchats from potential customers or partners.
While this is possible, it raises some ethical concerns. In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll share techniques to open Snaps incognito and analyze the pros and cons of each method.
Why Businesses Want to View Snaps Secretly
Over 300 million people use Snapchat every day. For businesses, the app represents a major opportunity to reach new audiences and share content.
Some companies may want to open Snaps in secret to:
- Monitor brand mentions or conversations about their business
- Conduct social listening research on competitors
- View Snaps from potential partners or customers
However, these practices can seriously damage trust and relationships. As we‘ll discuss later, there are ethical ways to achieve these goals without spying on Snaps.
First, let‘s review how Snapchat notifications work and the various techniques to open Snaps in stealth mode.
How Snapchat Notifications Allow Read Receipts
Snapchat‘s use of read receipts and notification icons enables social surveillance between users. To understand how to disable these features, you need to know how Snapchat engineered them.
When a user sends a Snap, the app contacts Snapchat‘s servers to transmit the image or video to the recipient‘s device. This communication also triggers a notification to be sent when the content gets opened.
Here‘s a breakdown of Snapchat‘s icons and what they mean:
| Notification Icon | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Red | Unopened Snap |
| Purple | Snap with audio |
| Blue | New chat message |
| Grey | Opened Snap |
Notification Tracking Enables Social Surveillance
While read receipts can help foster engagement, they also enable social surveillance. The sender can monitor when and where you open their Snaps.
This is by design. Snapchat built extensive analytics tracking into their app from the start. They capture data on:
- When a user opens the app
- How often they chat with friends
- Time spent viewing Stories
- Plus much more
For individuals, this data provides insights into social connections. But for businesses, Snapchat analytics represent an intelligence goldmine.
Next, let‘s look at techniques companies attempt to use to open Snaps in stealth mode without triggering notifications.
Airplane Mode: Temporary Block of Connectivity
A simple way brands try viewing Snaps secretly involves using Airplane Mode to temporarily block internet connectivity:
- Load the Snap you want to view but don‘t open it.
- Toggle on Airplane Mode to cut off network access.
- Open and screen capture the Snap for later viewing.
- Close the app and disable Airplane Mode.
Without an internet connection, Snapchat can‘t send a read receipt to the sender.
The Pros:
- Works on both iOS and Android devices
- Allows brands to secretly view competitor or customer Snaps
The Cons:
- High risk of detection if you forget to close Snapchat before enabling Airplane mode
- Only works on Snaps that have already downloaded, not new ones
For marketers, the Airplane Mode method seems stealthy. But as we‘ll explore next, taking screenshots of Snaps raises legal and ethical concerns.
Screen Recording: Saving Snap Content Permanently
Brands can also record their screen while opening Snaps to avoid triggering read receipts:
- Open Snapchat and load the Snap.
- Begin screen recording via your device settings.
- View the entire Snap while recording.
- Stop recording and access the video from your camera roll.
By saving Snap content via recording, brands avoid detection in the app.
The Pros:
- Works on both iOS and Android devices
- Allows brands to maintain a record of Snap content
The Cons:
- Doesn‘t work if your operating system prevents screen recording
- Highly unethical (and potentially illegal) without the sender‘s consent
While functional, screen recording Snaps is extremely problematic from an ethical and legal perspective. Let‘s explore why.
Brand Risks: Lawsuits, Regulation, and Public Backlash
Techniques like Airplane Mode and screen recording offer an illusion of secret Snap viewing. But for brands, attempting to use them poses major legal, regulatory, and reputation risks.
Lawsuits for Privacy Violations
If a company screens Snaps without consent, they could face lawsuits for violating privacy laws like the VPPA or TCPA:
- VPPA: Prohibits unauthorized capture of electronic communications
- TCPA: Bans recording phone calls and conversations without disclosure
These laws apply to Snaps since they contain audio, video, images. Damages from lawsuits can total in the millions.
FTC and SEC Social Media Guidelines
The FTC and SEC issued guidance emphasizing that social media monitoring must comply with disclosure rules.
Secretly recording Snaps flies directly counter to these guidelines. Violations can lead brands to face federal investigation or charges.
Public Scandals from Unethical Behavior
On top of legal action, news of unethical Snapchat monitoring can ignite public relations disasters.
In the age of viral outrage, brands seen as deceitful often get cancelled by online mobs overnight. The fallout frequently involves boycotts, public apologies, and executives getting fired.
You Can Achieve Business Goals Without Spying
The risks of secretly monitoring Snaps vastly outweigh any potential benefits. Fortunately, there are ethical alternatives brands can use to achieve their goals.
Want to monitor brand mentions? Use social listening tools tailored for public data.
Need intel on competitors? Search their official social media accounts and PR releases.
Wish to connect with potential partners? Reach out transparently to start meaningful conversations.
While less instant, these approaches foster trust and mutually beneficial relationships.
Key Takeaways: Opening Snaps Ethically
Snapchat can provide unique business opportunities, but attempting to open Snaps in stealth mode is legally dubious and destroys trust. Remember these tips:
- Don‘t violate user privacy by recording Snaps without consent
- Comply with FTC and SEC guidelines on social media monitoring
- Focus on building engagement with your audience authentically
Rather than sneakily viewing Snaps, have honest discussions with your partners and community. Maintain an ethical, transparent presence on social media.
That‘s the wise path to follow if you want to grow a reputable, responsible small business. Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions!
