Snapchat has been giving users snapshots of everything from cities to music festivals and sporting events through its hand-curated "Stories." Now, the photo-and-video messaging app is showing users multiple vantage points of the same moment with its new curation tool called "Story Explorer."
The feature is intended to give users deeper looks at live events by giving them the option to see more than one "Snap" taken at a particular time. While clips that make it into Stories are hand-picked by Snapchat employees, technology built by Snapchat's research team curates shots for Story Explorer. The new feature launched in the app's New York and Los Angeles "Stories" on Monday. To view additional footage, users can swipe up on individual Snaps within a Story and see about 10 additional clips. Swiping down brings the user back to the main thread. Snapchat said it plans to make the tool available in more Stories "very soon."
"Sometimes what’s happening goes beyond the Snaps we’ve curated into a Story," the company said in a post on Monday. "When you see a moment that inspires or excites you, simply swipe up to see more Snaps of that same moment - from every perspective. It’s the first time you’ll be able to experience that incredible game-winning dunk from thousands of perspectives throughout the stadium - or feel like you’re right there on the scene when breaking news unfolds."
The tool reflects a broader push by social apps to make live events central to the user experience. This summer,
Social apps compete fiercely for users and advertising dollars.
