Mobile app Snapchat is not just about disappearing messages anymore, with the introduction of its newest feature, the 'Story Explorer.' This feature lets users enjoy a snap that caught their attention in a different perspective.
"Sometimes what's happening goes beyond the Snaps we've curated into a Story. Today, we're introducing Story Explorer," read the Snapchat blog post. "When you see a moment that inspires or excites you, simply swipe up to see more Snaps of that same moment - from every perspective."
According to the report of the International Business Times, the 'Story Explorer' relies on users and new algorithms that create and monitor its own content to select submissions, as well as monitor for inappropriate content.
"The basic idea was we don't provide any depth inside Stories - you're on the red carpet. Then you're at a concert for a split-second," said Snapchat Inc. Chief Executive, Evan Spiegel, during an interview with the Los Angeles Times. "It was a feeling of 'show me more,' and we're fortunate that we just get so much video submitted to us that we had the ability from a content perspective to provide depth."
In a report by the L.A. Times, Deputy Director of the research group American Press Institute, Jeff Sonderman, said that Snapchat's move to evolve from a messaging app to a forum is somewhat similar to the past of other social media apps such as Facebook. This move is done to bring in a bigger and older audience.
"How do you use something like Snapchat if you don't feel comfortable sharing selfies or you don't have an interesting life?" Sonderman said. "Is there a browsable experience of things that are public and newsworthy? That's what they are getting at with this feature."
"We're launching Story Explorer on the New York and Los Angeles Live Stories today - with plans to roll out this technology across many more Stories very soon!" read the blog of Snapchat. "Happy Exploring!"
