Snapchat Puts a Price on Memories
Snapchat has officially confirmed that its Memories feature will no longer remain unlimited. Starting with a global phased rollout, the platform will cap free storage at 5GB. Once users cross that limit, they will have to pay for extra space. This marks the biggest change to Memories since its introduction in 2016, a feature that had become a core part of Snapchat’s identity as users saved content originally designed to vanish in 24 hours.
Over the years, Snapchat reported that users have stored more than one trillion Memories, turning the feature into a digital time capsule. But now, keeping those archives will come at a cost.
Subscription Tiers and Pricing
According to details shared by the company, users exceeding the 5GB free limit will need to upgrade to a paid plan. The base tier offers 100GB for $1.99 (approximately Rs 165) per month. For those who need more, a $3.99 plan (around Rs 330) under Snapchat+ offers 250GB of storage. Higher storage options under Snapchat Premium will also be available.
Snap has stated that users will not immediately lose access to their older content. Instead, they will be given a 12-month grace period of temporary storage, during which they can either upgrade or download their Memories directly to their devices.
User Backlash and Concerns
While Snapchat insists that the change will not affect the majority of users who remain under the 5GB limit, the decision has sparked frustration online. Many long-time users who have amassed years of content far beyond the cap expressed anger, calling the move greedy and unfair.
Social media is flooded with posts criticizing Snap for suddenly monetizing something that was free for nearly a decade. Critics argue that the change undermines trust, especially for loyal users who treated Memories as a permanent archive.
Snap, in a blog post addressing the backlash, admitted the transition would not be easy but defended the decision, saying it was necessary to improve and sustain Memories in the long run.
The Bigger Picture
Snapchat currently has over 900 million monthly active users, still trailing Instagram and TikTok, which boast billions. With competition fierce and growth slowing, Snap’s push toward subscriptions could strengthen revenue but also risks alienating its core user base. The success of this strategy will depend on whether users are willing to pay for their digital vault of photos and videos or move elsewhere.
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