Snapchat has evolved way past its beginnings as a photo sharing app and its latest update is taking the app a step further with Snapchat group video chats and friend tagging. The group chat feature will allow users to hangout with up to 16 friends at a time, or 32 with voice only. While plenty of apps and programs exist for group chats, Snapchat is innovating the space by allowing the use of its ace lenses at the same time. Snapchat described its new Snapchat group chat as feeling more like "hanging out," and was purposefully designed to feel less like like texting.
The other big addition to the platform is Snaphat Mentions. This feature will allow users to tag friends in stories, much like Twitter or Facebook. The Mentions feature will utilized the @ symbol, and will inform users once they have been mentioned in a chat. The feature will also allow other users see the tagged account's stories or even add them as a friend. The new Snapchat group chat and Mentions features are set to release globally in mid-April of 2018.
Expansive Group Chats
The Snapchat Group Chat and Mention Feature Bring New Life to the App
Trend Themes
1. Expansive Group Chats - Snapchat's group chat feature allows users to hangout with up to 16 friends at a time, disrupting the traditional messaging experience.
2. Friend Tagging in Stories - Snapchat's Mentions feature enables users to tag friends in stories, opening up new social interactions and enhancing user engagement.
3. Integrated Augmented Reality - Snapchat's use of lenses in group chats revolutionizes the way AR is incorporated into social media platforms, creating unique and immersive experiences for users.
Industry Implications
1. Social Media - The introduction of Snapchat's new features presents opportunities for social media platforms to incorporate similar functionalities into their own services.
2. Messaging Apps - The innovative group chat feature by Snapchat challenges other messaging apps to enhance their capabilities and deliver a more interactive and engaging user experience.
3. Augmented Reality - Snapchat's integration of lenses in group chats highlights the potential for augmented reality to be integrated into various industries, including gaming, advertising, and entertainment.