Social Media Company Makes Snapchat-style Story Features

Illustrations (Photo by Georgia de Lotz on Unsplash)

JAKARTA - If you are an active social media user, of course you will realize that each platform has one feature in common. In fact, it is not uncommon for other social media platforms to start adding these features. Yes the feature referred to is "Stories".

Even since Instagram Stories was launched, other social media such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and YouTube have started adding this format to its platform.

However, did you know that the stories feature was not owned by Instagram for the first time. In fact, the story trend was first introduced by Snapchat in 2013.

At that time Snapchat became a social media with a different characteristic from other social media. If Facebook is the place to meet family and distant relatives, Instagram is for sharing photos, while Twitter is usually used to share opinions.

Snapchat actually exists as a social media for sharing photos and videos that only last for 24 hours, after being uploaded by its users. Then in October 2013, Snapchat rolled out an update using the word "Story" for this new feature.

This feature was considered more attractive by many social media users at that time. Even according to Socially Sorted data, a year after running, Snapchat was able to attract 10 million active users, mostly teenagers.

Illustration (bangalorebuzz.in)

Instagram Then Crushed the Snapchat Market

Unfortunately, the popularity of stories on Snapchat has to be eroded by Instagram. Where in 2016, Instagram presented features similar to Snapchat, even having a naming that sounded the same.

Despite getting a lot of scorn, in fact Instagram has succeeded in attracting social media users to its platform. Based on data reported by Reuters in February 2020, Snap Inc, which is Snapchat's parent, reported that its shares fell 10 percent.

Instagram also had time to talk about its feature that copies Snapchat. According to him, with the presence of stories, it is hoped that users can be more spontaneous and can share their real everyday life.

“The biggest problem that Instagram users experience is feeling pressured to share amazing photos. In fact, they want to share a lot of things but they don't want to hang them on the gallery wall, ”said co-founder of Instagram, Kevin Systrom.

All in the Footsteps of a Story

Now almost all social media platforms, from WhatsApp, Facebook, YouTube, Line, TikTok to LinkedIn have embedded the "Story" format. In fact, all the features presented have the same format to share stories in images and videos with a duration of less than 24 hours.

What distinguishes only the format and filters of the application in creating a "Story" on each platform. For example, LinkedIn is basically a social media site specifically for professionals, so the Story feature that is embedded will not be adjusted to the scope of work of each user.

That thing you didn't Tweet but wanted to but didn't but got so close but then were like nah. We have a place for that now — Fleets! Rolling out to everyone starting today. pic.twitter.com/auQAHXZMfH

- Twitter (@Twitter) November 17, 2020

The newest is Twitter, which launched a feature called Fleets. With the appearance and format that is practically the same as "Stories" on other social media.

Where users can share photos, videos, or other content with a broadcast duration of 24 hours like stories in general. Not only Fleets, Twitter also confirmed that it is testing another feature called "Audio Spaces", which allows users to create chat rooms with several other users in a group.

"We are also (Twitter) interested in exploring and seeing how other platforms can develop this audio content," said Kayvon Beykpour, Twitter Product Lead.