SNAPCHAT has introduced a new monthly fee that will charge users for a feature that used to be free.
The popular messaging app has allowed users to save and store previously posted content since 2016.
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Some people will need to pay to keep their memories
Snapchat said on their website that Snapchatters have saved more than 1 trillion Memories since 2016.
But in new move, people with more than five gigabytes (GB) worth of Memories will now need to pay to keep them.
The company explained that unlike the camera roll full of duplicates and screenshots, Memories on Snapchat are special because Snapchatters choose to save the moments that really matter.
The post continues: “When we first launched Memories, we never expected it to grow to what it has become today.
“We want to make sure that our community can continue to store all of their Memories over the long term, so we are introducing new Memories Storage Plans to support Snapchatters with more than 5GB of Memories.”
“For the vast majority of Snapchatters, who have less than 5GB of Memories, nothing will change.
“For Snapchatters with more than 5GB of Memories, meaning thousands of Snaps, we are rolling out new options to upgrade and increase storage.”
New Memories storage plans
The introductory Memories Storage Plans will offer 100GB, 250GB with Snapchat+, or 5TB with Snapchat Platinum.
The company will provide 12 months of temporary Memories storage for any Memories that exceed the 5GB storage limit.
Users will also be able to upgrade to a Memories Storage Plan at any time, and as always, will be able to download their Memories directly to their devices.
Snap explained: “It’s never easy to transition from receiving a service for free to paying for it, but we hope the value we provide with Memories is worth the cost.
“Thank you for trusting us with some of your most precious moments. These changes will allow us to continue to invest in making Memories better for our entire community.”
A company spokesperson told News, external its initial 100GB storage plan would be priced at $1.99 (£1.48) per month, with 250GB included in the $3.99 (£2.96) cost of a Snapchat+ subscription reports the BBC.
The change has been criticised by furious users
One furious Snapchat user posted an image of the change to Reddit and captioned it: “First of all I’m furious because wtf, second of all why’s it switching up the storage?”
They continued: “So I’m guessing this was randomly implemented today because I’m only just getting this every time I f****** go to save a snap now.
“Now as you can also see it said at first (you’ve saved 3,198 memories since 2019, you’ve used 10.1GB of 5GB free storage…..) and just after that I went into my memories.
“And it then can up with the second slide pop up (you’ve saved 11,248 memories since 2019, you’ve used 138.6GB of 5GB free storage) WTFFFFF!”
Other Snapchat users were quick to comment and one wrote: “The end of Snapchat.”
Another added: “I’ve had my account since 2015. One of my favourite things about Snapchat was the memories. I never want to loose my Snapchat.”
While a third said: “The only reason I used snapchat is to store photos that I didn’t want to have on my phone due to limited storage on google photos, and now they’re doing this???”
“This is sooo annoying, I’m leaving snapchat now,” wrote one angry user.
Another said: “I thought I was going mental not seeing any posts about this, I literally keep getting this now every time i try to save a f****** snap, and then what they say they will temporarily save the snaps that are exceeding the limit.
“So it either pay for more storage with us or have your snaps f****** deleted in 12 months, I’m actually infuriated.”
