Paige Shupp
Contributing Writer
Social media platforms have greatly expanded over the years. If you are someone who frequently uses social media, Snapchat may be included in your usage.
But are users aware of all the expansions within their apps like Snapchat?
Snapchat was created as an entertainment platform for users but has greatly expanded its abilities over the years, constantly adding features to improve user experience. The newest added features have included the addition of AI/AI-generated snaps, creating your own filters and the creation of Snapchat+.
Snapchat+ was a new feature that added 29 new individual features for a small monthly price of $1.99 or $0.99 when discounted. Subscribers paying this price are given access to exclusive, experimental and pre-released features. Some of the most uniquely added features include the ability to pin #1 best friends, customize chat wallpapers, new map appearances and one free monthly snap streak restore.
Features such as these allow the user to ultimately customize their entire experience on Snapchat+. For example, the newly added map appearances now allow the user to include a customized car or customized pet to accompany their bitmoji. Users are then also able to share their live location on the app which allows other users to see their location even if they are not using the app.
Another feature users can purchase is the create your-own filter or lenses. For any special occasion, users are now able to create a custom filter just the way they want it. Filters can include any location name of an event or can be made into frames. Lenses would include facial filters.
By Snapchat adding new features constantly their goal is to improve user experience which is shown by the steady increase of users from 2014 until now. Along with the increase in users, Snapchat was also voted 9 on most popular social network and scores 74/100 on the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ASCI), placing higher than both Facebook and Twitter (X). Among the users who have made Snapchat who they are today, 109 million users remain in the United States with a majority of users being between the ages of 15-35.
William Lehr, 22, became a new user of Snapchat+ in January 2024. Lehr found the features to be very interesting and helpful in his custom experience.
“I enjoy the fact that I can change everything the way I want it to be,” he said.
His favorite added feature gives him the ability to change the app icon from the original white and yellow logo.
“I can even change it to an American flag which is pretty cool” stated Lehr. For the affordable price and the amount of newly customizable features, Lehr wishes to continue purchasing Snapchat+.
Snapchat is continuously working to expand to new users and to allow previous users to expand their customization within the app. So, if you are a Snapchat user or soon to be keep an eye out because there’s always something new coming.
