Snapchat is making a change that has frustrated many of its users.
The company announced it will begin charging for storing old photos and videos in its “Memories” feature a service that was previously free. The new policy impacts users who have more than 5 gigabytes (GB) of content saved. If your stored data exceeds that limit, you’ll now need to pay to retain access to your content.
Unsurprisingly, the change has sparked backlash across social media. Many users are calling the company “greedy” for monetising something that was once part of the free experience. Snap, Snapchat’s parent company, acknowledged that the transition from a free to a paid model can be difficult for users. However, they maintain that the change is necessary in order to “continue to invest in making Memories better” and to support the long-term sustainability of the feature.
A Look at the New Pricing and Your Options
If you go over the 5GB limit, Snapchat will prompt you to upgrade to a 100GB storage plan for around $1.99 per month. For users needing more, larger storage options are available through Snapchat+ and Snapchat Premium subscriptions, which come with additional perks.
For those unwilling to pay, Snapchat will give users a 12 month grace period to download their photos and videos before deletion. This provides time to back up content elsewhere without immediately losing access.
Snap says most users fall under the 5GB limit and won’t be affected. However, longtime users who’ve stored years of memories may now face a tough choice: pay up or lose them.
This shift highlights a growing trend in tech, where platforms are seeking new revenue streams by charging for features once offered for free. Some experts suggest all social media may eventually charge for data storage.
For more information: https://newsroom.snap.com/snap-memory-storage
What do you think fair move or a step too far?
