Snapchat is trying to remain relevant by keeping up with its innovative stance by simply taking a step out of its walled garden with a new feature that will enable the sharing of Stories with other users outside of the main app.
If this all sounds a little familiar, that’s because an identical feature – reportedly dubbed “Stories Anywhere” – was rumored just a few weeks ago. Now, Snap has confirmed a share button will be added to Stories in the Discover section alongside the rollout of the app’s major redesign.
That means you’ll be able to send selected video and photo compilations via text, email, instant message, or share Stories on pretty much any chat or social platform that supports links (say, Twitter or Facebook). Stories shared with those that don’t have a Snapchat account and desktop users will be redirected to a media player hosted on Snapchat’s homepage.
For the time being, the long-requested feature will only be available for users in Australia and Canada, where the Android and iOS Snapchat app has already been updated to account for the drastic redesign that was teased last November. A wider rollout will then follow as more regions receive the update.
Sharing will also be initially restricted to three types of Stories – Official Stories, Search Stories, and Our Stories. For those unfamiliar with the app, Official Stories are created by media partners and tend to be influencer/publisher-led.
Our Stories, meanwhile, consist of curated images and video intended to capture a snapshot of a recent event or hot topic. Finally, Search Stories is exactly what it sounds like – a collection of Snaps that show up under certain keywords.
In true Snapchat tradition, shared Stories are only available for a limited time. Our/Search Stories are made available for 30 days, while Official Stories are only viewable via the web player for a single day.
Snap’s latest move follows a period of financial turmoil and a concerning lack of growth for the social media company. Will the redesign and a web player be enough to entice new Snapchatters and bring back jaded users from WhatsApp and Instagram? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
