Snapchat, the multimedia messaging app used primarily for sharing photos and videos, often with added filters, text, or drawings, and its distinctive feature, “snaps,” which typically disappear after they are viewed by the recipient, although users can choose to save them, is expanding its offerings for a price.
Snapchat also includes Stories where users can post photos and videos that remain visible to their followers for 24 hours before disappearing. Widely used for communication, entertainment, and sharing moments with friends and followers, and until now perfectly free, Snapchat recently released an exclusive subscription called Snapchat Plus.
Costing $2.99 a month for the first three months and then $6.99 a month for a total of $83.88 per year, Plus delivers exclusive features like the ability to pin a friend as a number one BFF, exclusive badges, story rewatch indicator, custom app icons/ themes, Snapchat+ badge, friend solar system, along with exclusive experimental pre-release features.
This being said, is Snapchat Plus actually worth the monthly subscription? First, you need to think about the benefits these additional features provide.
For example, the rewatch feature allows you to see how many people went back to rewatch your story, but it doesn’t tell you who. Although it shows you how many people rewatch it, you can’t really do anything with this information because you don’t even know who these re-watchers are.
On the other hand, features like the “half swipe” and the time stamp of when viewers watch your content actually do have certain benefits. The half swipe refers to when someone swipes your message on the Snapchat app without opening it. This is a common method that users apply to make sure they want to respond to a text before opening it. The half swipe feature allows you to see when someone does this, which helps you know whether you are being ignored or if they simply haven’t seen the message. The time stamp for viewers on stories serves the same purpose. The feature can help you see whether someone is on their phone while you are on delivered if they view your story. There is also a best friend solar system that shows what place you are on a person’s best friend’s list.
“These features are pretty much for stalkers,” said senior Olivia Menéndez.
“I love seeing what place I am on on people’s best friends list,” countered sophomore Luna Fernandez .
Some other fun features include the ability to change your chat wallpaper with your friends. Although this is an enjoyable feature, exactly why is this considered “premium”? Apps like WhatsApp have allowed their users to change their wallpapers for free for years.
One final fun feature is editing your snap map car and having a pet with you so when people see your location, it’s different from the rest.
“Honestly, I don’t think it’s worth it at all. The only reason why I have it is because my parents’ generously offered to pay for it,” said senior Alejandro Pasos.
