Snapchat is getting a very old social media feature: event scheduling. Called “Snapchat Plans”, the application attempts to encourage IRL gatherings of its users with new tools allowing them to organize meetings for up to 200 people directly in the application.
According to Snap, more than a third of its top users already use the app’s group chats to schedule meetings. Plans creates a space dedicated to organizing events and tracking invitations. Users can access the feature from the “My Plans” section of their profile. When a new event is created, Snapchat will send invitations via DM in the chat and people can RSVP with the typical “I’m going”, “I can’t go” or maybe. There are also a few Snapchat-specific elements, like a Bitmoji-themed cover.
According to Snap, all events are private and viewable only by their creator and guests, although 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 told Woozad that the company is “actively working” on the possibility of adding location information to maps, although it’s unclear whether it will use Snap Map in any way.
There’s something a little funny about Snapchat, which has repeatedly claimed it’s “not social media,” adding a mundane social feature like Events. It’s even funnier that the feature doesn’t include location information, which I don’t know seems like a pretty crucial aspect of planning something IRL! But maybe the company knows something I don’t about how Gen Z makes plans. In fact, it’s a safe bet that this is the case.
