Snapchat embraces in-app purchasing, lets users replay Snaps for a fee

Shawn Knight

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Staff member

Snapchat is rolling out a new update for its Android and iOS apps that builds on a feature it introduced nearly two years ago.

Replay grants Snapchatters the ability to replay a single picture or video snap each day. That’s fine for some but as the company acknowledged in a recent blog post, it can be frustrating to the millions of users that field multiple daily Snaps deserving of a Replay.

To remedy the situation, Snapchat is introducing the option to purchase extra Replays. Users can score a bundle of three Replays for $0.99 via in-app purchasing. The only catch is that you can only replay a Snap once. The company readily admits that extra Replays are a little pricey but as it points out, time is money.

If games like Candy Crush Saga have taught us anything, it’s that people are more than willing to spend a buck or two for an in-game opportunity or competitive advantage. A couple of dollars here and there may not be much on an individual basis, but collectively, it could give Snapchat’s monetization efforts a huge shot in the arm.

The update also includes a new feature called Lenses that adds a bit of spice to boring selfies. And to encourage further engagement, Snapchat has added an achievement system it’s calling Trophies which are awarded for completing specific in-app tasks (think Foursquare's Swarm app).

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