One of the most downloaded apps in the world, Snapchat connects people through photos and videos adorned with absurd effects and funky filters. Whether you share your creativity with friends or the public, life on Snapchat is always temporary: the media that you send vanishes soon after it’s posted or viewed.

Snapchat boasts endless amounts of new content, uploaded each day. From finding friends to filters, here are the initial steps on the road to Snapchat bliss.

Getting started with Snapchat is simple: just open the app and sign up. You’ll enter your name, date of birth and username. You can adjust who sees your personal information later in Settings.

Now it’s time to design your avatar (aka Bitmoji). Choose details like your hairstyle and colour, outfit and even lip shape. You can change your Bitmoji whenever you feel like it, so don’t worry if you’re not 100 per cent happy with it!

Unlike your Bitmoji, you can only change your username once a year, so try to choose one that you’re comfortable with.

Messaging with friends is what Snapchat’s all about. The more friends that you add, the more fun the experience is.

The add button appears on multiple screens (look for the '+') in the top-right corner. Tapping it brings you a list of friends that you can add, including those who are already following you, and phone contacts using Snapchat. You can also scan someone’s unique Snapcode (similar to a QR code) to pull up their profile.

The 'Quick Add' feature suggests users for you to add based on your interests, expanding your network beyond your immediate friends.

At the bottom centre of the home screen is Snapchat's primary feature: a camera for taking Snaps – photos and videos that you can share. Tap the camera button to take a pic, or hold it down to record a video.

But first, it’s time to apply an augmented reality Lens – often silly, occasionally educational and sometimes downright terrifying effects – to your pictures. Tap the face to the right of the camera button to try on Lenses, and swipe up from mid-screen to discover even more options. With thousands of Lenses to choose from, it’s easy to turn yourself into anything from a panda to a ghost, or even a cookie.

Once you’ve taken a video or picture, swipe right to apply filters, including information about your location, mood and more.

Use the toolbar on the right side of the camera screen to add music, flash and even adjust the focus of your Snap.

You found the perfect Lens and threw on a cool filter. Now, where’s this masterpiece headed?

Your Story is one possible destination. It’s a timeline of your Snaps with each post lasting up to 24 hours, viewable by your friends as many times as they like within that time frame.

Or you can send your Snap directly to one or multiple friends – it’ll disappear 24 hours after they’ve viewed it. While friends can screenshot your Snaps, you’ll be notified when that happens. Try creating groups to quickly send Snaps to several friends

Share your location with friends through the Snap Map, an interactive map displaying you and your friends’ Bitmojis on a map. Tap a friend’s Bitjmoji to view their Stories.

To access Stories, swipe right from the centre of the home screen or just tap the tab. Here, you’ll see friends' Stories followed by 'Discover' – a feed of new and trending Stories from other Snapchatters and publishers. Expect a mishmash of odd, funny and wild posts – and know that the Snaps you engage with help determine who makes it on your Quick Add list.

Hop over to 'Spotlight' for longer form (up to 60 seconds) Snaps from top creators, curated by Snapchat and available for all users to see.

Like a video that you find through Discover? Tap the Bookmark button to receive notifications when that user creates new content.

Snapchat gives you a platform to get weird and wacky with friends. Share moments, explore your surroundings, and chat with an extra dose of delight.