Snapchat is actually launching a Lens store, with the objective of letting you buy Lenses for $0.99 apiece.
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It’s also useful for weeding out fake accounts or people with the same name from the person you’re looking for, which is why Twitter has been using them for several years. It’s unclear how often Snapchat will add new lenses to the store. All you have to do, when using the front camera on your phone, is to long press on your face to activate the lenses. Now, in addition to the seven free animated selfie lenses, Snapchat is offering 30 additional ones priced at 99 cents apiece. It’s all about the rainbow sick. Snapchat introduced this option together with the announcement that users will have to pay for replaying their friends’ snaps. However, it is a risky bet for Snapchat as the company could alienate existing users and slow down its growth if teenagers are turned off by paid options.
According to the company, Selfie lenses have become very popular, as 10 million lenses are being used every day against the 100 million daily users.
Previously, Snapchat has offered a rotating selection of about seven lenses each day, and will continue to do so. This is the second paid feature that Snapchat has introduced. Everyone’s favorite appears to be the rainbow puke filter, which I have to say does look pretty cool. In September, the company made it possible for users to replay Snaps up to three times for a 99 cent payment. Users who always want to have access to a certain Lens can now purchase it from the new Lens Store. The feature rolls out in the United States, UK, Australia, Brazil and Saudi Arabia today, with a variety of European countries to follow in the near future too. That compares with more than 1 million snaps that use the geofilters which denote what city or neighborhood you’re now in.
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Furthermore, another change has been incorporated to the app in a more subtle way as well, as Snapchat finally offers verification for VIP users (celebrities). The Lens can be purchased once it is dropped from the free list and added to the Lens Store. Now the company is bringing a few back – at a cost.
