Exploring Snapchat as a dynamic capture tool for social networking in persons with aphasia

ABSTRACT

Background: Physical, communication, geographic, and attitudinal factors place individuals with aphasia at risk for social isolation. Social networking applications may reduce the impact of such factors, providing an accessible context that reduces isolation. While individuals with aphasia desire to use social networking technologies, high linguistic demands and complex interface design constrain participation. Modified social networking applications may scaffold successful participation, capitalizing on multimodality communication tools, including photograph-based exchange to support participation.

Aims: This study examined the ability of individuals with aphasia to share daily experiences using Snapchat. The utility of the Snapchat platform in facilitating social exchange opportunities among individuals with aphasia was also explored.

Methods & Procedures: Six participants with aphasia participated in a 1-month trial of peer-to-peer social networking via Snapchat, using iPods equipped with Snapchat. Following hands-on training and an aphasia-friendly reference manual, participants posted images using Snapchat. Technology support was provided throughout the trial. Screenshots of posted images with or without text or other modalities were collected during the 1-month trial. Qualitative coding characterized the nature of posted images. Post-trial interviews were recorded from five out of the six participants.

Outcomes & Results: A total of 126 posts were collected (0–20 per day, 4–47 per person). Images, unaccompanied by text or drawing features, accounted for 79% of posts. Three participants accounted for almost 50% of the posts. Qualitative analyses generated three schemes for characterizing images: objective, engagement, and identity. Post-trial interviews revealed unanimous dissatisfaction with Snapchat as a social networking tool. While participants reported minor difficulties with technology and access to application, the primary barriers were a lack of reciprocity with other participants.

Conclusions: Although the participants reported difficulty with Snapchat, they each used posts to share about themselves. Participants shared meaningful images, sometimes augmented with text or drawing. Our research team concluded that there is a need for individualized, ongoing access to technology support for troubleshooting. Further, participants need to feel comfortable in utilizing that support. Constraints on use, necessary for data collection, complicated implementation and reduced participation. Our team believes that offering individuals with aphasia more freedom to use the application features, such as friend-to-friend communication, would reduce challenges with viewing and responding to peer posts. Individuals with aphasia express a desire for a reviewable timeline of posts that they can revisit as many times as they like, at their own pace. Despite dissatisfaction expressed by participants, Snapchat and related applications hold promise as universally available social networking tools given some adjustments.

KEYWORDS:

• Aphasia
• social networking
• social intervention
• technology

Acknowledgements

The investigators wish to acknowledge the Ronald E. McNair foundation for the first researcher’s McNair Research Fellowship, The University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) for a summer research grant, Drs. Antonio Freeman & Patricia Quinn of the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire McNair Program and our participants with aphasia for their patience and persistence.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Supplemental data

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed here.

Additional information

Funding

The investigators wish to acknowledge the Ronald E. McNair foundation for the first researcher’s McNair Research Fellowship, the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) for a summer research grant, Drs. Antonio Freeman & Patricia Quinn of the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire McNair Program and our participants with aphasia for their patience and persistence.