Do y’all remember a few months ago when I wrote a piece talking about how I didn’t understand Snapchat? Here it is if you don’t. Well, here’s an update on my journey of trying to be “cool” and getting into the world of snapping.

First off, the filters are cool. I can’t deny that. I love putting the various filters over my face and turning myself into anything from a tangerine to a maid. In some cases, movies that are being released will negotiate a contract with the app and will have a filter for a few days to promote the release. Those are super cool too. It’s almost like putting on a costume without the money, time, and effort. You just hold your finger and slide to the filter that you want, and the filter fits itself to your face. Those are pretty much all I send people because I like looking like a giant orange and scaring my friends.

Second, snap streaks. If you are unaware, a snap streak is when you have snapped someone for more than three days, and it begins to register how many days in a row you and the other person exchange snaps. You know you are on a streak when there is a little fire emoji next to their username and a number – this number can be as low as three and as high as well, I don’t honestly know. I know some people have streaks that are in the 400s. I’ve learned I am the worst person to start a streak with nine-tenths of the time. Why? I forget. I will literally forget all about it and then I open the app to snaps of people with “STREAK” and then mad emojis when it gets broken. There’s been once or twice where I have remembered to keep it going for a few days, but I’m always the reason for these things dying. They’re actually incredibly demanding, and I just don’t feel like exuding that much dedication in an app that sends funny faces to people.

Third, I like the news capabilities, even though 90 percent of them cover celeb gossip. Daily Mail does some AWESOME pieces on tragedies and world news, but they always start their news snaps with something about the Jenner sisters. People is the same way, as is NowThis, ET, and any other gossip mag. VICE tends to focus on alternative news. I like the New York Times and CNN because they give you some really great clips into what’s happening. I think WaPo has one too. BuzzFeed is very cliquey. The thing is, these gossip mags are MORE THAN capable of giving you a solid piece. BuzzFeed, of all publications, is the reason that Megan Rondini‘s case garnered national attention recently. If it weren’t for Daily Mail, I never would have learned about the controversial executions of Bali Nine’s Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan in Indonesia. I read about these things obsessively once I find them. I just wish they realized that sometimes the pieces that have some meat to them are the ones you want to lead with, not a headline like “Kylie seen in snake skin heels.” Sure they’re nice heels, but where’s the news?

I like Snapchat overall. It’s quick and easy. I still fail to see the point of using it as a main form of communication, but it’s a fun side thing to do. I keep it for the news capabilities more than anything. You can never have enough news. Trust me.

Or don’t. That’s your choice.