Snapchat is testing a paid subscription level for its social network called Snapchat Plus (or Snapchat +), which will give users early access to experimental features such as pinning certain conversations and exclusive icons.
The company has not specified exactly what benefits Snapchat Plus users would have, or where they will launch it. Our questions about these details received only a general statement in response:
“We are doing early internal testing of Snapchat Plus, a new subscription service for Snapchatters. We are excited about the potential to share exclusive, experimental and advanced features with our subscribers and learn more about how we can best serve our community, ”said a company spokesman.
It is not clear how Snapchat will differentiate between what is presented to Snapchat Plus subscribers who pay for the privilege of using experimental and advanced features; and those that are part of Snapchat’s existing beta program, which is free (as most beta tests are usually).
But we may have some details about Snapchat Plus, thanks to app researcher Alessandro Paluzzi. In a series of tweets, he noted that the subscription would cost € 4.59 ($ 4.82) per month or € 45.99 ($ 48.32) per year.
#Snapchat works on a subscription plan called Snapchat + 👀
ℹ️ Snapchat + gives you access to exclusive, experimental and advanced features, such as the ability to hook up 📌 chat with your best friend, access to custom Snapchat icons, special badge, etc … pic.twitter.com/VrMbyFlFvI
– Alessandro Paluzzi (@ alex193a) June 16, 2022
This will unlock features like a special badge, pin an account like your # 1 BFF so you can quickly send photos or chat with them, exclusive Snapchat icons and see how many friends have watched your story again in the last 24 hours. What’s more, if your friends have enabled location sharing, you can view their location in the last 24 hours.
Snapchat will need to clarify how it stores this information, as this feature sounds like a privacy nightmare if someone gets the data.
So… by subscribing to # Snapchat +, you can: 1️⃣ Pin a friend as # 1 BFF2️⃣ Access exclusive Snapchat icons3️⃣ Show your badge in your profile4️⃣ See your orbit with BFF5️⃣ See your friend’s location in the last 24 hours See how many friends you have6️⃣ I reviewed your story
– Alessandro Paluzzi (@ alex193a) June 16, 2022
As the company’s results for the first quarter show, Snap is currently growing faster than Facebook and Twitter. However, the company also wants to increase its revenues. In April, he announced a new tool for retailers to turn their photos into AR objects and later integrate them with Snapchat’s own shopping. It also launched Lens Cloud, a technology stack from the developer server to build multi-user experiences. The new subscription service can be another piece of the puzzle that allows them to earn more money.
Snapchat is not the only social network trying to increase its revenue through subscriptions. Last year, Twitter launched its paid plan, called Twitter Blue, first in Australia and Canada, and later in the United States 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 for Google One subscribers.
For many years, these applications have focused on consumer growth, while offering their services for free, relying on advertising money and partnerships. However, as more and more restrictions are placed on how ads can be delivered and what data they can collect – and consumers are becoming increasingly irritated by the invading “you are the product” approach that comes with so much advertising technology – these platforms are trying to find more opportunities to make money. Asking consumers to pay for first-class features seems to be an increasingly attractive option in these cases.
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