No one likes losing things. Especially when you've worked on them every single day for a year and a half. But that's the reality college student Amy Strawser is currently facing, as she lost a 571 day "Snapstreak" with her sister on Snapchat.
A Snapstreak is achieved when two people send Snaps back and forth on Snapchat for a consecutive number of days. And it's definitely A Thing.
In order to keep a streak going, you've got to send a Snap back and forth to a friend within a 24-hour window. And, yes, you've got to do it every. Single. Day.
But once a Snapstreak is broken, it's gone for good. In fact, keeping up the streak is so important to some that they appoint "streaksitters" to keep their streaks going when they're on holiday.
The duration of your Snapstreak — A.K.A. your "streakcount" — is displayed next to your friend's username alongside a ? emoji. When your Snapstreak hits 100 days, you get a special ? emoji next to your streakcount.
losing a snapchat streak with someone hurts as much as a break up lol
— DmC (@danmarieeee) March 20, 2017
"Honestly after losing a snapchat streak of 571 days, I felt heartbroken," says Strawser. "I could equate my emotional levels to eating clean for 571 days, and then randomly all of a sudden just eating everything that is bad for you," she continues.
For Strawser, the appeal of a lengthy streak is largely that they're a "fun thing to brag about to your friends," hence why she was motivated for 571 days to keep it up. After losing this streak, Strawser's sister — who's in high school — emailed Snapchat support in an effort to persuade them to restore their Snapstreak. The sisters remain hopeful that their streak will be restored.
losing a snapchat streak hurts so bad
— Katie (@katie__rose_) March 10, 2017
But, Strawser isn't alone in her heartbreak. Student Manish Tanks lost a long Snapstreak after working hard to keep it going over three continents. "I have lost a 185 day long snap streak and it was definitely heartbreaking," says Tanks.
He's currently working hard to maintain two Snapstreaks and he's keen not to repeat his previous mistake.
"I have two Snapstreaks at 428 and 391 days that I am super careful and low-key proud of. Whenever we hit a milestone that we mutually agree on we celebrate it with drinks or getting dinner and it's even more fun when you don't even live in the same cities," he says.
Roujau Rayetparvar once lost a 96-day Snapstreak with a friend when they were both on holiday and forgot to send each other something. "It was honestly terrible. I remember us both vowing to stop using Snapchat, however that vow didn't last. I was upset for a day or two but got over it eventually," says Rayetparvar.
For others, though, the Snapstreak-losing struggle is so real, they resort to creating petitions in a desperate plea to have their streaks reinstated.
"There is a hole in my heart."
Abigail Barrett started a petition on Change.org after three of her Snapstreaks disappeared while she embarked on a 17-hour-long sleep. "My jaw dropped as I gazed at the sight before me. My 230 day streak, the longest streak I had possession of? Gone. 95 days, just 5 days away from 100? Also gone," wrote Barrett.
"There is a hole in my heart. I speak on behalf of the upset population of people who stood by my side as we lost our Snapchat streaks just yesterday. [...] Every individual on this planet knows just how precious a streak can be," she continued.
So, why do people care so much about the longevity of their streaks? High school student Rachel Luo says that the amount of time and effort poured into Snapstreaks is the reason they're so important.
Lost a 500 day snap streak today. Deleting snap chat seems like the only reasonable response
— "chainsaw" brown (@brown_sage) March 10, 2017
"A really long streak is a sense of pride or accomplishment. You can show someone your streaks, and it's almost this sense of oh yeah, we've talked EVERYDAY," says Luo.
"When you break a streak most people I know are kind of sad, but mostly it's the type of thing where you're like 'I lost our streak' and everyone is like 'aww'. It's very relatable."
To those involved in deeply committed Snapstreaks: ensure your friend is just as committed as you. To everyone else: please Snapchat responsibly.
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