Snapchat announces a new way for users to create custom Stories. In May 23rd, 2017, the company said that users can add friends as contributors, with an option to add locations.
To create the Story, users can tap on the 'Create Story' icon that is located at the top right corner of the Stories page. Give the Story a name, and then invite the friends to participate. "It's perfect for a trip, a birthday party, or a new baby story just for the family," said Snap.
To contribute once joining a custom Story, users can look for it under the 'My Story' line item in friends list.
Users can contribute to as many custom Stories as they like, but they can only create three custom Stories at a given time. And keeping the ephemeral tradition, Stories will disappear if no one has contributed into it in the last 24 hours.
Because Snapchat's primary audience are millennials, the custom Stories can be popular at occasions like prom, graduation, weddings, birthday party and other events that are likely interesting for Snapchat's youthful audience.
This is a feature also makes sense given to how Snapchat is used during road trips or other special events, adding another dimension to the app's experience. It can also embrace and keep those youthful audience engaged as they ages up.
Users can also "geofence" their Story so only those that are selected in a particular location can view it.
Snapchat will create a 1-block geofence around the sender's current location; those Stories can only be then seen and contributed to by chosen friends and, if they like, also friends of friends. The geofenced Stories don't let users specify a separate group with just viewing permissions, so anyone within the geofence that falls into those categories (depending on which they choose) will be able to add to the Story as well.
This is a step ahead of clone competitors (Facebook, Instagram) at the moment of introduction. Recently, Snapchat has responded with a bunch of new features, like no longer having a time limit, added editing tools such as the ability to draw with emojis or erase an object in a photo.
The feature is rolling out gradually to all users.