When comparing Snapchat vs Lemmy, the Slant community recommends Lemmy for most people. In the question“What are the best social networks?” Lemmy is ranked 1st while Snapchat is ranked 10th. The most important reason people chose Lemmy is:
Anyone can self-host the software on their own server. Users can join an instance they like. You can view and comment on other servers (instances) as long as the instance you are on hasn't blocked the other instance.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Allows sharing photos, videos and texts that self-destruct
All Snapchat communications disappear after they've been viewed. It creates more interesting conversation when you don't have to worry about consequences as much. Additionally you can doodle on photos.
Pro Includes news
Snapchat includes a Discover page (accessed by two swipes from the right side) where curated list of news and entertainment outlets can put up news from their sites.
Pro Does not get in the way of what it's designed to do
Snapchat is first and foremost a way to share photos so the first thing that the app presents the user with is the camera enabled and ready to take photos. Once photos or videos are taken, it's possible to caption them or draw on them.
Pro Federated
Anyone can self-host the software on their own server. Users can join an instance they like.
You can view and comment on other servers (instances) as long as the instance you are on hasn't blocked the other instance.
Pro Simple and fast interface
Pro Open-source
Pro Shows both number of upvotes and number of downvotes, not just total
If someone has some unpopular opinion you can still see some people upvoted it and therefore appreciated it (so you can decide to read it).
Pro Problematic instances can be blocked
If the moderation of a certain instance is not good, other instances can block it.
Pro A rich ecosystem of third party clients and software
See the awesome lemmy github repo.
Cons
Con Security concerns
In 2013, Snapchat was hacked. As a result phone numbers and usernames of 4.6 million users were published online. That happened after concerns were raised by a security firm weeks before that Snapchat dismissed. Other security concerns were pointed out to Snapchat throughout 2014 including ways that the service could be used for DDOS attacks and how their anti-robot measures can be circumvented.
Snapchat has since implemented two-factor authentication.
Con Non-intuitive UI
The UI space is well used but you'll likely miss a few messages until you understand of the UI works; it's not like the average mobile apps.
Con Pro-CCP, Chinese censorship and concentration camp deniers
Con Complicated to use
Some find it quite difficult to use. As each instance is seperate, it take a lot to get used to using it.
Con Slow and unreliable
Con A community of leftist privacy and FOSS enthusiasts, run by Lemmy’s developers
Politically biased platform, that they seem to be proud of.
