Snapchat has finally introduced one of the most-requested and long-awaited features: Groups. This new group chat feature allows users to Snap and chat with up to 16 different friends in the same group. And of course, the conversations automatically disappear in 24 hours.
The new Group feature also includes an easy way to pop out to individual chat with anyone within the Group, letting you tap on any member’s name when they’re active in a chat and jump into a one-on-one conversation, says a report from Venture Beat. All features supported in Chat are supported in Groups, including stickers, vote and video notes, Bitmoji and more.
“Groups can be created while sending a Snap, or when you’re making a new Chat,” reads Snapchat’s description. “When your friends are present in a Group Chat, we show their name at the bottom of the Chat. Simply tap their name to start a 1:1 Chat, and then easily return to the Group in one swipe! We call this Quick Chat, and it’s the fastest way to keep the conversation going with one friend without spamming the entire Group.”
Groups is also joined by two new tools: scissors and paintbrush. The former will let you turn Snaps into stickers from the preview screen, while the paintbrush will apparently turns Snaps into “artistic masterpieces,” although at this point we aren’t quite sure what that means.
Snapchat‘s introduction of this Groups feature makes sense as the company is fielding some stiff competition from the likes of WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger – both of which support group chat. With Snapchat reportedly considering an IPO early next year, it wants to be as comprehensive as possible and give its users less of a reason to use other competing services.
