Snapchat Adds New Features for the Holidays

Snapchat is adding a range of festive features to enhance your experience this holiday season—with a twist. These updates are primarily aimed at Snapchat+ subscribers.

First, Snapchat+ users will gain access to exclusive app themes, including holiday-inspired backgrounds and buttons. As showcased in these examples, the new themes offer a more festive, Christmas-themed look for the app, featuring unique color palettes and updated design elements.

Subscribers can select from various

preset color schemes, allowing them to completely “transform the look and feel of Snapchat across all tabs.” The designs are visually appealing, but perhaps not compelling enough to sway non-subscribers unless they’re particularly devoted Snapchat users.

Additionally, Snapchat+ subscribers will enjoy new Bitmoji reactions for chats. These allow users to use their personalized Bitmoji avatars to respond to messages in fun, expressive ways, offering more interactive options for in-app conversations. With Snapchat+ already boasting 12 million subscribers, this addition might encourage even more users to join the premium program.

For non-paying users, Snapchat is rolling out updated holiday-themed Lenses, including an AI-generated “Ugly Sweater” generator, which aligns with the festive mood.

Snapchat is also testing an option to save all messages in a conversation for up to seven days. Traditionally, Snapchat messages auto-delete after 24 hours, a core feature of the platform. However, with the holidays potentially interrupting regular connectivity—whether due to travel or limited device access—this extended retention time could prove helpful.

It’s worth noting that this option won’t protect Snap Streaks, but it will allow users to revisit their conversations later. Snapchat+ users already have the option to keep their Stories active for up to a week, signaling that Snapchat’s strict time limits may be evolving.

The seven-day message retention feature requires consent from all participants in a chat, though it’s unclear if this is a temporary holiday feature or a permanent addition.

These updates are an intriguing mix of features designed to boost user engagement over the holiday season, while also nudging more users toward Snapchat+.

With the recent expansion of Snapchat+ gifting options, many teens will likely explore these features with enthusiasm, especially on Christmas Day.

For more details, check out Snapchat’s latest updates here

Source: Social Media Today

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