Backlash grows as many call the move "greedy," risking user trust despite Snap's defense.
Snapchat has announced a major change to its Memories feature, confirming that users who exceed 5GB of saved photos and videos will now have to pay to keep their archives. The move, which Snap says will roll out globally in phases, has triggered frustration among long-time users who have relied on the feature since its launch in 2016.
For nearly a decade, Snapchat's Memories has let users save photos and videos that were originally designed to disappear within 24 hours. The feature became very popular among users as Snap reported that users have stored more than one trillion Memories since its debut. However, under the new policy, anyone surpassing the 5GB free limit will be asked to upgrade to a 100GB paid plan, or opt for higher storage through Snapchat+ and Snapchat Premium. Here's how much it will cost.
According to details shared with TechCrunch, the 100GB plan will cost $1.99 (Rs 165 approx) per month, while a $3.99 subscription tier (Rs 330 approx) under Snapchat+ will include 250GB. Snap has said users will be given 12 months of temporary storage if they cross the threshold, during which they can either upgrade or download their Memories directly to their device.
The decision has not gone down well with many. Several users on social media accused the company of being "greedy" and "unfair," pointing out that they have amassed years' worth of content well beyond 5GB, and now risk losing access unless they pay.
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Snap acknowledged the backlash in a blog post, saying: "We know it's never easy to transition from receiving a service for free to paying for it. But we believe these changes will allow us to keep improving Memories for everyone."
The company insists the change won't affect the "vast majority" of its users, since most reportedly stay under the 5GB free limit.
Snapchat currently has more than 900 million monthly active users, trailing behind rivals like Instagram and TikTok with their multi-billion user bases. While the new subscription model could help Snap generate revenue, it also risks alienating a segment of loyal users who built up their digital archives under the assumption of free, unlimited storage.