Snapchat Updates: Memories & Explore Layers on Snap Map

Snapchat Enhances Snap Map with New Interactive Layers

Snapchat revealed plans earlier in the year to introduce Layers to its Snap Map, aiming to increase user engagement with the platform. Today marks the debut of the initial two layers: Memories and Explore.

Snap Map Functionality

The Snap Map currently allows users to view the real-time locations of friends who have enabled location sharing. It also highlights points of interest and identifies areas with high Snapchat activity.

Introducing the Memories Layer

The Memories layer provides a personalized experience, displaying past Snaps sent from specific locations. For example, browsing the map and focusing on Central Park might reveal a photo taken last year of a dog encountered there.

It’s important to note that Memories are entirely private and accessible only to the individual account holder; friends cannot view another user’s personal memories.

Explore Layer: A Reimagined Heat Map

Explore offers a new take on the traditional heat map, which visually represents activity levels across the Snap Map. Users can tap on highlighted areas to discover public photos and videos shared by Snapchat users globally.

Streamlining Information and Future Layers

These Layers are intended to simplify the user experience by organizing information, rather than presenting it all at once on a single map view.

Snap is collaborating with partners such as Ticketmaster and The Infatuation to develop additional layers. These will showcase nearby events and popular restaurants among Snapchat’s user base.

My Places Feature

This summer, the app also integrated a My Places feature. This provides personalized recommendations for locations to visit, based on the user’s past activity, their friends’ locations, and popular destinations among other Snapchat users.

Accessing the New Layers

To utilize Layers, users should navigate to the Snap Map and select the Layers menu button located in the upper-right corner. From there, they can toggle between the available layers to find the desired information.

Availability

These new features are now available to all Snapchat users on both iOS and Android devices.