Snapchat has announced a major change to its Memories feature, which has let users save old photos and videos since 2016. From now on, people with more than 5GB of saved Memories will need to pay for extra storage space. The company says most users are under this limit, but those with larger archives fear losing their content and feel very disappointed. A temporary 12-month storage period will be offered, and users can either download their data safely or pay for new plans. The first option gives 100GB for $1.99 a month, while Snapchat+ and Premium subscriptions include bigger packages starting at $3.99. Many users reacted with anger, calling the move “greedy” and “unfair,” since storage was free before and used for many years without cost. Snap explained the money will be invested to improve Memories and support the whole community. Experts believe this change is part of a bigger global trend: all social media platforms may one day charge for storage, as people continue to save more.
Vocabulary:
• storage (noun) : a place or service to keep digital files or data.
• subscription (noun) : a paid plan to use a service every month or year.
• fee (noun) : money you must pay for a service.
• archive (noun) : a collection of old documents, photos, or videos kept for the future.
• rollout (noun) : the slow introduction of a new rule or service.
• limit (noun) : the maximum amount allowed.
• download (verb) : to copy data from the internet to your own device.
• premium (adj.) : a higher level of service, often more expensive.
• unfair (adj.) : not just or not reasonable.
• community (noun) : a group of people using the same service or platform.