Snapchat users can now create Stories in collaboration with other users for the first time, the social media app has announced.
Stories are a central feature in the photo-sharing app, where users can upload images and video into a single chronological collection that can be viewed by followers for up to 24 hours.
Now Snapchat users will be able to create a custom story and invite friends to contribute to the collection, the firm said.
The photo and video sharing app said the new feature will also enable “friends of friends” who are nearby to contribute and view the Story using location-based technology called geofencing.
“It’s perfect for a trip, a birthday party, or a new baby story just for the family,” Snapchat wrote in a blog post.
“You decide who can add to the Story and who can view it – you can also choose to geofence the Story to a location.”
Snapchat also announced it was expanding support for personalised emoji, known as Bitmoji.
The user-created animations will now appear in a user’s Snapcode – their profile signature within the app.
The new features will be rolled out to users on iOS and Android from Tuesday, it was confirmed.
Snapchat has come under heavy pressure from Facebook in recent months, after the social networking giant adopted several features similar to Snapchat’s core functions across its apps, including Messenger, WhatsApp and Instagram.
A Stories-like feature has appeared in all three apps, with Instagram Stories having already surpassed 200 million users – more than that of Snapchat.
According to the company’s most recent figures, the app currently has 166 million daily active users.
