Snapchat users have been playing about with Lenses for a few months now. The feature comprises animated selfie overlays that in just a couple of taps can have you barfing rainbows or looking like a monster.
The seven available lenses are free to use and, in keeping with Snapchat’s ephemeral theme, one disappears from the lineup each day, with a new one appearing.
In the latest of several recent monetization efforts, the LA-based startup on Friday launched a store offering 30 new lenses for 99 cents each that you can use over and over.
For those who don’t want to fork out for the feature, the seven free lenses remain, with a new one continuing to appear each day.
Snapchat, a startup that seems to like doing things a little differently, decided to retweet messages from some of the naysayers:
@Snapchat NO ONE IS GOING TO BUY THOSE FILTERS LOSERS
— Raghad (@raghads25) November 13, 2015
It didn’t take long for @Snapchat to start making you pay to use those filters. Thanks for ruining a fun idea — Aaron Hren (@AHrenbo) November 13, 2015
At the same time it retweeted a few positive ones to balance things up a bit:
Everyone going mad about @Snapchat charging but forgetting that they’re a business obviously they’re gunna want to make money 😂🖕🏻
— ROB #TEAMKOKE (@RobertKelly_oOo) November 13, 2015
i love @Snapchat for so many reasons. i love them today for retweeted hate tweets about their new paid lenses. pic.twitter.com/2E0In2Oe06 — Casey Neistat (@CaseyNeistat) November 13, 2015
This latest in-app purchase from Snapchat follows another rolled out in September that lets users replay snaps up to three times for 99 cents. And like Lenses, it also offers a free version of the feature that gives users one chance a day to take a second look at a snap before it disappears.
As for this latest in-app purchase option, you can preview each of the store’s lenses for free, but it’ll cost you a buck to use them in a snap. To activate lenses, simply press and hold on your face and the overlays will appear at the bottom of the display. Swipe to the end of the free options to locate the store’s offerings.
The new store for Lenses is currently available to Snapchatters in several countries, including the U.S., U.K., and Australia, though if you’re elsewhere and are desperate to gussy up your mug, be patient, it’s bound to go global soon enough.
