Understanding Users Through the App’s POV
When analyzing digital platforms, it’s tempting to focus on numbers; downloads, feature lists, or update notes. Yet those metrics don’t capture the human side of app use: how people feel when they open an app, what they need from it, and where friction gets in the way. To better understand that dimension, I turned to Point of View (POV) statements, which frame analysis through the lens of users’ needs and insights. Exploring Snapchat, Spotify, and Prime Video gave me a clearer picture of not only what these apps provide, but also how they fit into everyday routines.
Snapchat: Authenticity in Impermanence
Snapchat is a social media and messaging app where users share temporary photos and videos (“Snaps”), with most disappearing after being viewed. It also offers Stories that last 24 hours, private chat, video calls, and Snap Map location sharing.
Snapchat is built on a principle of being fleeting. The way content disappears reshapes how people share; less polished, more spontaneous. Users often praise Snapchat for letting them be themselves, relieved of the pressure to craft a perfect, permanent image. But this comes with frustrations: too many features, ads interrupting flow, or a cluttered interface.
Research supports these observations. Studies show that Snapchat users, especially younger ones, place high value on authenticity, things like sharing what life actually looks like, rather than what appears idealized. Snapchat for Business In “Unpacking the characteristics of Snapchat users,” for example, it is suggested that the platform has made photo-based interactions a legitimate way to communicate authenticity.
From this, two POV statements emerge: one, the college student who wants visual communication without permanence, fearing mistakes or over-curation; two, the busy user tired of juggling apps and craving a unified space for connection and sharing that doesn’t feel performative.
Spotify: Personalized Soundtracks & the Engagement-Diversity Trade-off
Spotify is a music, podcast, and audiobook streaming app that offers free, ad-supported listening or a Premium subscription with offline access, ad-free playback, and higher sound quality.
Spotify delivers deep personalization. Users love Discover Weekly, smart playlist suggestions, the emotional ties that form with certain tracks or albums. But there are sticking points: ads can disrupt immersion, offline listening is imperfect for some, and there’s a sense that recommendations sometimes circle too narrowly.
Here, recent scholarship validates what user feedback often implies. One study, “Understanding and Evaluating User Satisfaction with Music Discovery” (Spotify’s research) found that users judge recommendation quality based on their own listening histories and goals. For instance, a skip might mean very different things depending on whether someone is casually listening or digging for new favorite tracks. Spotify Research, Another field experiment traced the impact of personalized recommendations on both engagement and diversity: while personalized suggestions increase consumption (people listen more), they tend to narrow what each individual listens to over time, less diversity in their playlists.
Thus, the POVs here are: the music enthusiast who wants discovery, curated songs that feel ‘just right’ to their mood; and the multitasker who needs uninterrupted immersion, whether commuting, studying, or winding down, and who may resent adverts or online-offline disconnects.
Prime Video: Overwhelmed by Choice
Prime Video is a streaming platform that offers movies, TV shows, sports, and Amazon Originals, included with an Amazon Prime membership or available as separate rentals and subscriptions.
Prime Video presented a different challenge altogether. Unlike Snapchat or Spotify, the issue wasn’t engagement but navigation. With its vast catalog, users felt overwhelmed. Reviews pointed to decision fatigue when browsing, and confusion over what was included in their subscription versus what required an extra fee.
My first POV captured the perspective of a time-strapped viewer who simply wants relevant content surfaced quickly. Without stronger recommendations, Prime Video risks losing users to platforms with cleaner discovery systems. The second POV reflected the cost-conscious subscriber already juggling multiple streaming services. For them, the lack of clarity about included titles caused frustration and reduced the perceived value of the service.
These insights reinforced that even with endless content, the user experience falters if clarity and simplicity aren’t prioritized.
Closing the Gap Between Features and Experience
Looking across the three apps, a common thread emerges: features alone don’t guarantee satisfaction. Snapchat succeeds when it eases social pressure. Spotify wins when it feels invisible, seamlessly integrating into a user’s life. Prime Video struggles when abundance overshadows usability.
POV research reminded me that app design isn’t just about building tools, it’s about building trust, clarity, and comfort. By grounding my analysis in user perspectives, I moved beyond surface critiques and uncovered deeper insights into how digital platforms shape, and are shaped by, everyday life.
See more of my App’s Point of View Analysis
