# How Snapchat Stories Advance with a Tap > This patent describes how an electronic device can quickly show a series of short-lived messages, deleting the current one and showing the next in response to a simple screen tap. - **Patent:** US 8914752 - **Original title:** Apparatus and method for accelerated display of ephemeral messages - **Owner:** Snapchat Inc - **Granted:** 2014 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 176 - **Field:** consumer_electronics, software, telecommunications ## What it does This patent covers a system where an electronic device displays a series of 'ephemeral messages' (messages that disappear). Each message appears for a specific, short 'transitory period of time' set by a timer. If a user makes a 'haptic contact' (touches the screen) during this period, the system immediately deletes the current message and automatically displays the next message in the series, starting its own timer (Claim 1). For example, when viewing a friend's Snapchat Story, tapping the screen quickly moves you to the next photo or video in their story. ## What it does NOT cover - Does not cover messages that remain visible indefinitely unless manually dismissed, as all messages are deleted when their 'transitory period of time' expires (Claim 1). - Does not cover systems where a user gesture only dismisses a message without automatically presenting the next one in a set (Claim 1 requires 'deletes... and proceeds to present... a second ephemeral message'). - Does not cover messages that are deleted solely by a timer, without any user interaction accelerating their deletion or advancing to the next message (Claim 1 specifies deletion 'in response to the haptic contact signal'). - Does not cover systems where the display of the next message requires a separate, explicit action beyond the gesture that deleted the previous message (Claim 1 links deletion and progression directly). - Does not cover messages that are not part of a 'set of ephemeral messages available for viewing' (Claim 1). ## The clever bit The novelty lies in linking a simple user gesture, such as a tap, directly to the immediate deletion of the current temporary message and the automatic display of the next one. This allows for seamless, accelerated viewing of a sequence of short-lived content. ## Real-world examples 1. Snapchat Stories 2. Instagram Stories 3. Facebook Stories 4. WhatsApp Status ## Why it matters This patent describes the core interaction model for consuming 'Stories' content, a format popularized by Snapchat. This method of rapid, sequential content consumption became a defining feature for the platform, influencing how users interact with short-form media. It enabled a new, fast-paced way for users to share and view daily updates from friends. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does How Snapchat Stories Advance with a Tap cover? This patent describes how an electronic device can quickly show a series of short-lived messages, deleting the current one and showing the next in response to a simple screen tap. ### Who owns patent US 8914752? Snapchat Inc owns this patent, granted in 2014. ### When does this patent expire? This patent is expected to expire on August 22, 2033, when the invention enters the public domain. ### What is patent US 8914752 cited by? This patent has been cited by 176 later patents that build on its ideas. ### What problem does this patent solve? This patent describes the core interaction model for consuming 'Stories' content, a format popularized by Snapchat. This method of rapid, sequential content consumption became a defining feature for the platform, influencing how users interact with short-form media. It enabled a new, fast-paced way for users to share and view daily updates from friends. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Does not cover messages that remain visible indefinitely unless manually dismissed, as all messages are deleted when their 'transitory period of time' expires (Claim 1). **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8914752/apparatus-and-method-for-accelerated-display-of-ephemeral-messages **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US8914752 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How Smartphones Switch Between Slow and Fast Scrolling](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8683378/scrolling-techniques-for-user-interfaces) — A system that automatically changes how a list scrolls based on how fast or hard you interact with the screen. - [How Touchscreens Show and Snap Back When You Scroll Past an Edge](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7469381/iphone-rubberbanding) — Apple's 2008 patent describes how a touchscreen device displays a blank area when a user scrolls past the edge of a document, then smoothly snaps the document back into place when the user lifts their finger. - [How Facebook's News Feed Picks Stories You'll Like](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8171128/facebook-social-graph) — Facebook's 2012 patent explains how it creates a personalized news feed by showing stories about friends' actions, ordered by your interest, and updating it based on what you click. - [How Pull-to-Refresh Works on Your Smartphone](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8448084/pull-to-refresh-gesture) — This patent describes the 'pull-to-refresh' gesture that lets users update a list of content, like a social media feed, by dragging down until a trigger appears and then releasing. - [How Touchscreens Understand Your Finger Swipes and Scrolls](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7479949/iphone-multi-touch) — This patent describes how touchscreens use smart rules, called heuristics, to figure out if your finger movement means scrolling up, moving around a map, or flipping to the next photo, especially by looking at how you start your swipe.