Snapchat is getting a very old-school social media feature: event planning. Called “Snapchat Plans” the app is trying to foster IRL gatherings of its users with new tools to organize meetups of up to 200 people directly in the app.
According to Snap, more than a third of its core users are already using the app’s group chats to plan get-togethers. Plans creates a dedicated space for organizing events and tracking invites. Users can access the feature from the “My Plans” section of their profile. When a new event is created, Snapchat will deliver invites via DMs in chat and people can RSVP with the typical “going,” “can’t go” or maybe. There are also a few Snapchat-specific elements, like Bitmoji-themed cover art.
According to Snap, all events are private and only visible to their creator and invitees, though anyone invited can view the guest list. Strangely, the feature doesn’t appear to include the ability to add location details, even though the app has a widely-used map feature. A spokesperson tells Engadget the company is “actively working on” the ability to add location info to Plans, though it’s unclear if it will utilize the Snap Map in some way.
There’s something a little amusing about Snapchat, which has repeatedly claimed it’s “not social media,” adding a mundane social feature like events. It’s even more amusing that the feature doesn’t include location info which, I don’t know, seems like a pretty crucial aspect to planning something IRL! But maybe the company knows something I don’t about how Gen Z makes plans. Actually, it’s a pretty safe bet that they do.