Study reveals Snapchat not only for youngsters anymore

The picture messaging platform has traditionally been associated with the younger generation

The picture messaging platform has traditionally been associated with the younger generation

Picture messaging app Snapchat has long been considered the hip, trendy way to communicate among teenagers and young millenials, but not necessarily with the older generation technology users.

However, new research from eMarketer has concluded that it is no longer only for kids. The platform — where photos, video and text last only 24 hours — is quickly gaining ground among every age demographic in the America, including parents.

4.5 million new users have been registered in the 25 to 34-year-old demo between 2015 and 2016, a 39.8% increase. However, the 45 to 45 age group saw the next biggest increase, up 600,000 (35.2%). Falling just behind, the 35 to 44 demo saw an increase of 1.1 million (29%).

4.5 million new users have been registered in the 25 to 34-year-old demo between 2015 and 2016

In total, eMarketer believes that Snapchat has upwards of 58 million users in the US alone.

The survey predicts consistent growth across all demographics over the next four years, with the 25 to 34 crowd eventually using the platform just as much as their peers age 18 to 24 (both at 25 million users by 2020).

Social network Facebook has also shown a surge towards older users, initially being concentrated solely on university students, but figures have shown its decreasing popularity amiong teenagers in recent years.

Cathy Boyle of eMarketer said the short lifespan of Snapchat's messages make it a highly creative and specific environment for users. “In a world in which there is an app for nearly everything, Snapchat has cut through the clutter by injecting fun back into social sharing,” she said in a statement.