Rethinking communication and training with Snapchat in the workplace

Purpose This paper aims to examine the growing role of Snapchat in professional settings, concentrating on its impact on organizational communication, employee engagement, training practices and overall productivity. It also aims to understand how ephemeral and mobile-first media platforms reshape workplace communication and collaboration dynamics. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses a narrative–integrative review grounded in communication theory, organizational psychology and learning sciences. Drawing on peer-reviewed work from 2019 to 2025 identified via Web of Science, Scopus, PsycINFO and ACM Digital Library, this synthesis synthesizes evidence around media richness theory, social presence theory and uses and gratifications Theory to propose an integrative framework for ephemeral media in workplace communication and training. Findings Snapchat fosters real-time connectivity, social presence and multimodal engagement in the workplace. However, it also presents challenges such as digital fatigue, blurred professional boundaries and generational divides in adoption. The analysis reveals the opportunities and risks of integrating Snapchat into formal and informal workplace systems. Originality/value This paper contributes to current debates on digital transformation and workplace communication by providing actionable insights into how organizations can use ephemeral media, such as Snapchat, to support training, knowledge exchange and cross-cultural collaboration. It highlights the need for intentional, inclusive strategies when integrating informal communication platforms into professional settings.