The ephemeral messaging app Snapchat is allowing links inside its platform to go beyond its native contents.
An update to Snapchat allows users to share links from other apps. This will allow users to send a private message with the link to one of more people.
External link sharing has been a game changer to many social media out there. And having this feature on Snapchat, could potentially turn the ephemeral messaging app into a legitimate source of referral traffic for news and ecommerce sites.
Brands and businesses that want to go viral with Snapchat's majority teenager audience.
Initially for users using iOS, the update makes sharing content simpler, as there's no need to copy and paste a link from an app because Snapchat appears in the iOS share sheet.
This strategy complements Snapchat's previous strategy that allows links to be attached to private Snaps and Stories.
Snapchat also makes things easier for users to watch others' Stories. Users can tap and hold on people's names anywhere inside the app.
Another update Snapchat is introducing, is allowing users to temporarily disappear from its Snap Map. So rather than turning off live location, users can hide using the 'Ghost Mode' for 3 or 24 hours.
There’s also an option to leave Ghost Mode enabled 'until turned off.'
Snapchat originally introduced Snap Map as a way for users to share their locations directly onto a map. But the feature quickly came under fire from privacy advocates. Nevertheless, the feature has become popular among the app's teen user base.
This Ghost Mode makes sure that if users want to turn off their location briefly, they don't forget and leave it off permanently. This feature is crucial because Snapchat already hides Snap Map behind the camera, making it easily accessible with a pinch motion. This convenience makes some users not aware.
Since it's very easy to forget to turn off location sharing, the update aims to make disappearing easier.
With it, users can drop into Ghost Mode to disappear, and automatically reappear later.