US Citizens Greet The New President With Snapchat Filters

Joe Biden's look on Snapchat's AR filter (The Verge)

JAKARTA - Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were officially appointed as President and Vice President of the United States (US). Unfortunately, Biden and Kamala's inauguration ceremony looked different from the previous one.

Not many US citizens participated and watched the Joe Biden inauguration ceremony. Given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the threat of chaos some time ago, Biden's inauguration ceremony was held on a limited basis.

Knowing the situation, the Biden inauguration committee has planned new things so that US citizens can participate. In collaboration with the Snapchat app, the Biden inauguration team presented a special filter that supporters could use virtually.

Screenshot of the Snapchat (The Verge) filter

The Snapchat filters and photos will be shown live at the inauguration ceremony of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. If users flip the camera, they'll see Biden from the Jumbotron screen greeting him during the online inauguration.

"Hey Snapchat !! It's me, Joe. Welcome to the inauguration !," said Biden in the video on the Jumbotron screen.

In fact, the Snapchat filter is made for digital campaigns that utilize augmented reality (AR) technology. This allows US citizens to continue to participate in the inauguration ceremony for the 46th president.

"This year's inauguration allows us to create new, innovative, and creative tools for Americans across the country to participate in traditions and inauguration ceremonies while staying at home to keep everyone safe," said Christian Tom, digital director for the presidential inauguration committee.

The Biden team itself can be said to be quite creative in utilizing technology. For example, when they used the popular Nintendo Animal Crossing: New Horizon to greet its citizens who had to undergo self-quarantine, last September.

The inauguration ceremony of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, was also enlivened by a number of famous artists and singers such as Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Foo Fighter, John Legend, and Tom Hanks. #InaugurationDay became a trending topic on Twitter when Biden was officially inaugurated as the US 46th President.