Sheppard team up with Snapchat to launch 2020 Friendship Report

Snapchat has partnered with Aussie pop group Sheppard to launch its second Friendship Report.

The report tracks the relationship between culture, technology and friendship in age groups across the globe. More than 10,000 people worldwide, including 1,500 Australians, were surveyed.

According to the findings, 78% of participants agreed that digital communication platforms have helped them pick up lost friendships during the pandemic. Additionally, just under two-thirds of respondents said they preferred to use digital communication when connecting with lost friends.

Amid the pandemic, 79% said social media has helped them stay connected with friends, with 64% saying they would lose connection with certain people were it not for online communication.

The report arrives alongside Snapchat's new Friendship Time Capsule feature, a collaborative photo collage tool that creates joint images between two users.

In a statement, the members of Sheppard said they used social media platforms, including Snapchat, to remain connected during the pandemic.

"We’ve found that Snapchat is a digital platform where we can be the unfiltered and more ‘real’ versions of ourselves with our friends," they said.

"Whether it’s silly faces and dog ears to try or even a quick video of a new musical idea, Snapchat is where we can chat and let off some steam."

Sheppard also recently performed at the 2020 AFL Grand Final.