Lapse: Empowering students to handle the pressure of the latest trending apps
A new app has surged to the top of the charts, gaining popularity for its recent approach to attracting users. Lapse, a social camera app, has captured the attention of students through its unique promotional strategy — users must invite friends to gain access to its features. This growth-hacking technique has propelled Lapse to the number one spot on the U.S. App Store, but it hasn’t been without controversy.
While the app allows users to play to their core online by capturing what they love most in a fun way, many are comparing the strategy Lapse uses to get people to sign up to that of a “pyramid scheme.” By understanding how this app works, how students can play to their core with it, and the potential negative effects of the new social media platform, educators can empower students to make responsible decisions online. Before we dive into exactly how educators can do this, let’s cover the basics of the platform:
Tell me more about Lapse
Lapse, originally introduced in 2021, reimagines the disposable camera experience by allowing users to take pictures with delayed viewing and share them with a group of friends. Recognizing a shift in user behavior, the app underwent a transformation, focusing more on curating photos into albums and creating user profiles. In its current iteration, Lapse retains its unique feature of snaps “developing” at random times, adding an element of spontaneity to the photo-sharing experience.
The recent surge of Lapse to the top of the App Store charts is attributed to its invite-only strategy. Unlike traditional invite models, Lapse doesn’t just gate its app to those with an invite; it requires users to invite friends before gaining access. This approach has sparked debates, with some users feeling uncomfortable about spamming their friends to use the app.
Another downside of the “invite only” feature is that students who get the invite may feel pressured to get an app they don’t want to join, and those who want to join without an invite may feel left out, creating FOMO (fear of missing out) among those students. The overall impact of Lapse’s invitation system seems to be helpful for the company’s success, but possibly distressing to students as a result of social pressure and feeling left out. However, since this platform’s popularity is growing rapidly, and it doesn’t seem to be going anywhere, it’s important for educators to know the upsides and downsides of Lapse to help students navigate it safely and positively.
Why educators need to know about Lapse
The unintended, negative consequences of Lapse’s user-gathering technique create another hurdle for students to navigate on social media. With this new platform rising in popularity fast, it is important for educators to huddle with their students, especially younger ones, about the impact of social media and how to use it in healthy ways. Understanding the controversial sign-up process of Lapse allows educators to address the upsides, downsides, and potential risks of the platform.
Empowering students to navigate rising trends and popular apps is more than just understanding the features of an app; it’s about instilling a sense of responsibility and critical thinking. Lapse’s strategy serves as a real-world example for educators to empower their students to handle the pressure of navigating FOMO and the need to stay on top of all the latest apps.
TSI’s Take
Lapse took digital cameras and turned them into a unique social media app, and a fun way for students to capture what they love and play to their core online. When students play to their core, they are being their true, authentic selves on social media– posting and sharing only what makes them happy. However, the pressure of the invite-only strategy should not be downplayed either. Lapse might not be an app for every student, and we can encourage them to respect the boundaries of others should they choose not to join the app. To encourage your students to handle the pressure while navigating new trends and apps, like Lapse, positively, check out these tips:
- Embrace your individuality: Not every person will love an app or trend. Don’t be afraid to embrace what makes you unique.
- Empathize and connect: Everyone around you has unique perspectives and experiences, so remember to be considerate of the different backgrounds, wants, and needs of those around you.
- Encourage inclusivity: Take steps to encourage an inclusive environment in your school and elsewhere to make sure everyone’s interests and values are respected.
From FOMO to the latest trends, students face the pressure to stay up-to-date on a near-daily basis. Interested in helping your students handle the pressure? Request a demo of our #WinAtSocial Handle The Pressure lessons to empower students to find their own path, no matter the pressure from others.
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The Social Institute (TSI) is the leader in empowering students by understanding students. Through #WinAtSocial, our gamified, peer-to-peer learning platform, we equip students, educators, and families to navigate their social world – in the classroom and beyond, online and offline – in healthy, high-character ways. Our unique, student-respected approach empowers and equips, rather than scares and restricts. We incorporate timely topics about social media, tech use, and current events that are impacting student well-being and learning. #WinAtSocial Lessons teach life skills for the modern day, capture student voice, and provide school leaders with actionable insights. Through these insights, students play an essential role in school efforts to support their own health, happiness, and future success as we enable high-impact teaching, meaningful family conversations, and a healthy school culture.