More than 800,000 people have signed an online petition calling on Snapchat to revert its update back to the original design.
The app’s latest redesign, which was released last week, focused on separating “media content” from that of “friends” among an array of other interface changes.
Snapchat Stories, which are videos and photos shared among users that vanish after 24 hours, also now appear with individual Snaps and direct messages.
The “Remove the new Snapchat update” petition, which is hosted on Change.org, was authored by Australian user Nic Rumsey.
“Many users have found that it has not made the app easier to use but has in fact made many features more difficult,” the petition reads.
“There is a general level of annoyance among users and many have decided to use a VPN app to go back to the old Snapchat, as that’s how annoying this new update has become.
“This petition aims to help convince Snap Inc to change the app back to the basics, before this new 2018 update”.
The update has outraged millennials and celebrities alike, with many protesting that the new interface is cluttered and difficult to use.
Under the comment section of the petition one signatory wrote, “I am signing because Snapchat is my favourite app, me and my friends use it all the time. I find this update confusing and childish-looking and I am considering no longer using it as long as the update stays.”
Others on Twitter voiced similar concerns.
I’ve had the Snapchat update for a few days now and still haven’t figured out the equation. I’m so confused. Do any of you guys have the answer key?
— Grayson Dolan (@GraysonDolan) February 10, 2018
The Snapchat update is a bigger mess than that one notebook I’ve been using for all my classes, starting on whatever page I open to and storing all my papers under the front cover
— Dory (@Dory) February 11, 2018
me trying to find my friends Snapchat stories after the update pic.twitter.com/Y8bE4epDUS
— fairy god mom (@lyxopk) February 11, 2018
Model and TV presenter Chrissy Teigen also weighed in on Twitter, asking rhetorically “How many people have to hate an update for it to be reconsidered?”
I’m seeing this same comment so often. I liked that you guys felt like we were friends. I’m sad it doesn’t feel like that anymore. How many people have to hate an update for it to be reconsidered? https://t.co/PI7OAf9Qlg
— christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) February 9, 2018
Some of Snapchat’s users have complained the app was updated automatically, causing the loss of some messages or archived data.
Despite the pleas, parent firm Snap Inc. currently has no plans to reconsider the original design. In a statement, a spokeswoman said “updates as big as this one can take a little getting used to, but we hope the community will enjoy it once they settle in”.