'Sexting app' privacy concerns

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - It's the most popular app for teens today.

Snapchat allows users to take a picture on their phone, choose who to send it to and within ten seconds, the picture self destructs.

Robert Foo a senior at Western New England University told 22News, “It's kind of supposed to be like texting but you communicate through pictures."

These pictures seem to only exist in the moment, so it's becoming a popular way to send revealing, compromising or even just unflattering photos.

Foo said, "Yea people send stuff all the time and they're like oh only my friends are going to see it."

In this digital world nothing is completely private and in the case of Snapchat, it's easy to take a screen shot of the image before it automatically erases.

Another WNE student, Hannah Berling, said, “They think it's going to go away and I can do whatever I want but I know that it's not true I mean whatever you post anywhere is going to stay out god knows where."

Anthony Mutti, WNE Director of Information Services says it's not just apps, privacy can't be expected with emails, text messages or Facebook posts.

Mutti said, “This generation thinks this is the norm that you post your entire life online and share it and they may expect that if they delete it it's gone but it's just not the case.”

The creator of SnapChat maintains the app is not meant for inappropriate conduct and users can block or report offensive conduct.