The flash of a lens. The snap of a camera. The tap of a screen. The clicks of a digital keyboard. The press of a button.

And someone on your contact list has just made $20. Just like that.

While the functionality of something like this may seem similar to that of Paypal, or even buying something your friend is selling, it’s hard to believe that the app this transaction took place on a popular yellow app featuring a small, white ghost as it’s mascot.

Yes, the transfer of money described took place on Snapchat.

Make it Snappy

Since Snapchat’s beginning, they have begun a service committed to sending money between other users who have accounts with the company. The process is simple, anyone with a bank account and the app can do it. Money is transferred by opening the chat option and entering the amount you want to give. When you send it, the person you sent it to receives said amount of money.

Consensus from the general public has been either confusion or negative, with very few finding positive qualities in the service. Students on campus seem to think similarly. Junior Ashley Mir says one of her main questions is the security of her bank account’s information.

“It could be easier to hack into.” Mir said. “You’re giving that company your bank information, someone could easily hack in there and take some. It’s like leaving your money to be guarded by rodents. It’s not very high security.”

Snapcash, despite being revealed last year, has not gained much popularity with users. Usage of the service has been questioned, but Mir is sure that there are some out there that would take advantage of the service and use it to send and receive cash.

“I think a small amount [of people] would use Snapcash.” Mir said. “I could be wrong, but seeing how people act these days, I can see some people doing this. They use anything they can. The latest technology, people use that stuff without thinking twice. They think ‘Oh, this is cool, it’s safe, I don’t have to go anywhere right now, I’ll just use Snapcash.’”

Another concern some have expressed with the service is that of illegal activities that could take place. Snapchat’s origins lie in distributing nudes, despite what the service has become today. Freshman Eshan Kamarsu is sure that things like nudes could be spread around.

“[Snapcash] could definitely be used for things like sexting.” Kamarsu said.  “You send money to one person, you get pictures. What if that gets spread around, and the police get to it? Boom, you’re in the cuffs.”