Snapchat’s Lenses feature launched a few months ago. It allows users to apply one of seven different light-hearted animated overlays to selfies before sharing with their friends. Every day, one of the filters is removed and replaced with something new. It works in a similar manner to the disappearance of messages sent through the app once they have been viewed.
As Digital Trends reports, Snapchat yesterday opened a new store that allows users to pay to add more lenses they can use forever. Thirty are currently available for the cost of 99 cents each. Although the seven changing free ones remain, some users haven’t been pleased by the addition of a store as it has disrupted the status quo of everyone having access to all the available effects.
In an interesting move, those complainants have found their frustrated tweets being echoed back to them by Snapchat. As well as retweeting people pleased with the store, the company also retweeted people who wrote direct criticism including “No one is going to buy those filters losers” (all in capitals) and a message concluding with “Thanks for ruining a fun idea.”
Extra lenses aren’t the only things you can pay for in the Snapchat app now. In September, the company made it possible for users to replay Snaps up to three times for a 99 cent payment. All users already have the ability to replay one snap for free each day.
The lenses store can be accessed by long-pressing the screen when taking a selfie. It is currently only open in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and a few other regions worldwide. A wider rollout is expected soon.
The Verge notes the response to the free version of the feature has been very positive since its launch a couple of months ago. Over 10 million snaps using lenses are sent every day, making them one of the most popular overlays available in the app. Users are made to come back to the app to see what new filter has been added each day, although it remains to be seen how many will be willing to fork out to purchase lenses their friends may not have.
