Snapchat – Everything You Need to Know

With 300 million monthly active users and a library of 250,000+ AR lenses, Snapchat remains the king of ephemeral sharing.

But beyond the basics, disappearing messages, Stories, and quirky filters, lies a toolkit of underrated features that transform how you use the Snapchat app.

AR Shopping: The Dressing Room in Your Pocket

Snapchat’s partnered brand lenses let you virtually try on clothes, makeup, and accessories before buying. How it works:

• Open the camera and tap the lens carousel

• Search for brands like Gucci, Nike, or Sephora

• “Try on” products in real-time with precise AR tracking

Why it’s better than Instagram:

• No ads cluttering your feed, just direct, interactive demos

• Works with backward facing camera for full outfit previews

• Links to checkout within Snapchat

Custom Geofilters: Your Personal Branding Tool

Forget generic location tags. Snapchat lets you design and submit geofilters for:

• Weddings (“Sarah & Mark’s Wedding – June 2024”)

• Small businesses (“Joe’s Café – 10% Off Today!”)

• Campus events (“NYU Freshman Week”)

Cost:

• Personal use: Free (approved in ~24 hours)

• Businesses: Starts at $5 for small areas

Pro Tip: Use Canva’s Snapchat template for professional designs without hiring a graphic artist.

Shared Stories: Group Storytelling Done Right

Unlike Instagram’s Collabs, Snapchat’s Shared Stories let friends contribute seamlessly:

1. Create a Story and invite friends

2. Contributors add snaps that auto-arrange chronologically

3. Viewers see a unified narrative, not disjointed posts

Best uses:

• Road trips (each friend adds their POV)

• Family reunions (relatives share moments)

• Event coverage (multiple angles of a concert)

Scan & Search: Google Lens, But Faster

Point your Snapchat camera at:

• Plants: Identifies species + care tips

• Dogs: Recognizes breeds

• Math problems: Solves equations step-by-step

Accuracy tests:

• 93% correct on plant ID vs. Google Lens’ 89%

• Faster than Amazon’s visual product search

Why These Features Matter

1. AR Shopping bridges social media and e-commerce, no more guessing if sunglasses suit your face shape.

2. Custom Geofilters turn real world events into shareable experiences, boosting engagement.

3. Shared Stories fix the “too many group chats” problem for event coordination.

4. Scan & Search makes Snapchat a utility, not just a social app.

Snapchat’s Shared Stories feature solves one of modern social media’s biggest headaches: coordinating group content without endless chats or fragmented posts. Unlike Instagram Collabs (which feel like an afterthought) or TikTok’s Duets (limited to two people), Shared Stories let up to 1,000 contributors build a single, cohesive narrative. Here’s how to use it like a pro, and why it’s become a secret weapon for event planners, travel groups, and families.

Step 1: Creating a Shared Story

1. Open Snapchat and swipe right to the Stories screen

2. Tap “New Shared Story” (bottom right, next to “New Story”)

3. Name it (e.g., “Smith Family Reunion 2025”)

4. Add friends by selecting from your list or sharing a link

5. Set privacy:

   • Friends Only (default)

   • Custom (handpick contributors)

Key difference from regular Stories:

• Contributors don’t need to follow each other

• No admin approval needed for adds (unless you enable “Approve Joins”)

Step 2: Managing Contributions

Once live, contributors can:

• Add snaps (photos/videos up to 60 seconds)

• View all content in chronological order

• Save the entire Story to Memories

What most miss:

• Hold down on a snap to pin it to the top for 24 hours

• Use @mentions in captions to tag specific people

• Swipe up on any snap to see who’s viewed it

Step 3: Advanced Tactics

For Events (Weddings, Concerts, Conferences)

• Assign themes: “Ceremony POV,” “Reception Dancing,” “Guest Messages”

• Use Geofilters: Add custom location tags for cohesion

• Pro Tip: Designate 2-3 “lead contributors” to maintain narrative flow

For Travel Groups

• Create chapters: “Day 1 – Rome Sightseeing,” “Day 2 – Vatican Tour”

• Embed Maps: Share your route via Snap Map integration

• Pro Tip: Have one person post a daily recap snap

For Families

• Kid safe sharing: Grandparents see grandkids’ snaps without needing individual adds

• Memory keeping: Save the entire Story as a “Year in Review”

Why This Beats Alternatives

 

Real world example:
A bachelorette party used a Shared Story to:

1. Share getting ready clips

2. Post live venue reactions

3. Collect guest messages
   Result? A single, searchable timeline instead of 200 scattered texts.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

• Can’t add friends → Ensure they’ve updated to the latest Snapchat version

• Story disappeared → Check if the creator set a <24hr expiry

• Too many contributors → Enable “Approve Joins” in settings

What Users Don’t Realize

• Business accounts can use Shared Stories for:

  • Product launches (employee testimonials)

  • Behind-the-scenes content

  • Crowdsourced customer stories

• Teachers use it for:

  • Field trip documentation

  • Class project collaborations

Conclusion :

1. Name Stories clearly (“Japan Trip Day 3” > “Group Story”)

2. Set expectations (e.g., “Post 1-2 snaps per activity”)

3. Download backups before they expire

FAQ

What’s the difference between Snapchat Shared Story and Instagram Collabs for events?

Shared Stories allow 1,000+ contributors vs. Instagram’s 2 person limit. For large gatherings, Snapchat organizes content better. Need help? Email snapchat[at]snap.com or visit Snapchat Support.

Can I recover a deleted Snapchat Story?

Only if saved to Memories first. Download Snapchat app via Google Play and enable auto save in settings.

Why can’t my friends see our Shared Story?

Check privacy settings, it might be set to “Custom” instead of “Friends.” Have them update the app if issues persist.

How do I pin a snap in a Shared Story?

Press and hold the snap, then tap “Pin.” Stays up top for 24 hours.

Is there a limit to Shared Story length?

No, but individual snaps cap at 60 seconds. The full Story expires after 24 hours unless saved.