Snapchat has what it calls the 'Custom Stories' feature that allow users to have others to participate.
This feature allows users to add friends to view and contribute to Stories. This time, Snapchat has extended that Custom Stories concept, by introducing 'Shared Stories', which allows users to add others to collaborate in Stories.
This expands the Custom Stories since it allows users to invite other Snapchatters to contribute to their Story with their own takes and insights.
So for example, a user is cooking and wants friends to add to his/her cooking Stories.
To do this, the user needs to add the friends they want into the group, so that they can add more people, as well.
In Snap's words, the feature makes it easier "for the whole soccer team, camp squad, or group of new coworkers to get in on the fun."
Just like regular Stories, shared Shared Stories are only visible for 24 hours before disappearing.
But importantly, Shared Stories don't have a chat feature. Snapchat assumes that all users in the group know each other.
Shared Storiess also have an automatic language detection feature, as well as review tools to monitor additions and make sure they're all safe.
Users will be notified if they join a Shared Story with someone they have blocked.
This should be useful, because the notification should give them a chance to leave the Story, to ensure that "Snapchatters are always in complete control over who they share content with on our platform."
"With this next-generation Story, we’re hoping to help Snapchatters turn shared moments into shared memories. Have Snaps to share? Head to the profile page, tap new story then select Shared Story to get started," said Snap in a blog post.
The roll out of the feature comes a few weeks after Snap’s Partner Summit, where the company announced several new features.
The features include Director Mode, aimed at providing easier access to Snapchat’s native creative tools for publishing video on its platform, a feature that should complement its short-form video feature known as Spotlight.
The company also announced a number of new initiatives focused on using its AR technology to aid with online shopping.
Most notably, the company introduced an in-app destination within Snapchat called “Dress Up," and a mini drone called "Pixy."
The company has been introducing new things at a relatively fast pace, as it tries to invest in more things to help boost its growth.
This was clarified by Snap CEO Evan Spiegel, who wrote in an internal memo that the company will miss its revenue goals due to slow growth.
Although Snap continues to grow year over year, Spiegel said that the company is growing more slowly than expected due to the overall economic environment.