Snapchat is testing a paid subscription level for its social network called Snapchat Plus (or Snapchat +), which would give users early access to experimental features such as setting certain unique conversations and icons.
The company has not specified what exact benefits Snapchat Plus users would get, or where they would launch it. Our questions about these details only received a generic statement in response:
“We’re testing early internal testing of Snapchat Plus, a new subscription service for Snapchat users. We’re excited about the potential to share unique, experimental, and pre-existing features with our subscribers, and learn more about how we can best serve our community, “a company spokesman said.
It is unclear how Snapchat will differentiate between what is presented to Snapchat Plus subscribers, who pay for the privilege of using experimental and pre-launch features; and those that are part of Snapchat’s existing beta program, which is free (as most beta tests usually do).
But maybe we have some details about Snapchat Plus, thanks to app researcher Alessandro Paluzzi. In a series of tweets, he noted that the subscription will cost € 4.59 ($ 4.82) per month or € 45.99 ($ 48.32) per year.
#Snapchat is working on a subscription plan called Snapchat +
ℹ️ Snapchat + gives you access to unique, experimental, and pre-existing features, such as the ability to set up 📌 conversation with your best friend, access to custom Snapchat icons, a special badge, and more. pic.twitter.com/VrMbyFlFvI
– Alessandro Paluzzi (@ alex193a) June 16, 2022
This will unlock features like a special badge, setting a profile as your best best 1, so you can quickly send or chat with snaps, exclusive Snapchat icons, and see how many friends have seen your story in the past 24 hours. . Plus, if your friends have turned on location sharing, you can check out their whereabouts for the past 24 hours.
Snapchat will need to clarify how it stores this information, as this feature seems like a privacy nightmare if someone takes over the data.
So … by subscribing to # Snapchat + you can: 1️⃣ Set a friend as BFF # 12️⃣ Get access to exclusive Snapchat icons3️⃣ Show a badge on your profile4️⃣ See your orbit with BFF5️⃣ See your friend’s whereabouts in the latest 24 hours6️⃣ See how many friends they have I looked at your story again
– Alessandro Paluzzi (@ alex193a) June 16, 2022
As the company’s first-quarter results suggest, Snap is growing subscribers faster than Facebook and Twitter. However, the company also wants to increase its revenue. In April, it announced a new tool for retailers to turn their photos into RA objects and then integrate them with Snapchat’s own shopping experience. It also launched Lens Cloud, a stack of server-side technology for developers to create multi-user experiences. The new subscription service could be another piece of the puzzle that will allow them to make more money.
Snapchat isn’t the only social network trying to increase its revenue through subscriptions. Last year, Twitter launched its payment plan called Twitter Blue, first in Australia and Canada, and later in the US and New Zealand. The Telegram messaging app is also preparing to launch its own subscription service this month. Google Photos also offers exclusive filters and effects to Google One subscribers.
For many years, these applications focused on the growth of users while offering their services for free, relying on advertising money and collaborations. However, as more restrictions are placed on how ads can be delivered and what data they can collect, and users become increasingly annoyed with the invasive “you’re the product” approach that includes so much adhesive technology, these platforms are trying to find more avenues. to make money. Asking users to pay for premium features seems to be becoming an increasingly attractive option in these cases.