Snap Inc. announced various new features for its Snapchat app Wednesday that will allow users to add links, various backdrops and voice filters to their Snaps.

The new features rolling out to all iOS and Android users come just two weeks after the launch of Snap Maps, which allows users to see the exact location of their friends, appearing on a map as a cartoon avatar. Since launching, the feature has caused some hysteria across the internet, mainly from concerned parents. The Snap Maps feature is off by default and users will need to opt-in to share their location. Users can also select to share their location only with a few close friends and not their entire Snapchat friends list.   

Snapchat is facing strong competition from Facebook Inc.-owned Instagram, which since last year has been rolling out many Snapchat-like features. Instagram Stories, which the company launched in August, has already attracted 250 million daily active users, according to statistics released last month. In comparison, Snapchat, which has been around for a few years now, is struggling to grow and is trailing behind Instagram Stories with 166 million daily active users, as of the first quarter of 2017.       

Here’s a look at how to add the new Snapchat features to Snaps:

Add links to your Snaps

Snapchat’s new Paperclip tool allows users to add website links to their Snaps.

For this feature, Instagram Stories seems to be ahead of Snapchat. Instagram added the ability for creators to include URL links in their Stories in November. Currently, the feature is only available for verified Instagram accounts and there is no indication of when or if the feature will roll out to all users.

Friends can then swipe up on the Snap to open the link in Snapchat’s internal browser. So that people know what link they are about to open, a preview of the website will be shown next to the swipe-up arrow.

This feature, which was previously only available for ad campaigns and Discoverer content, will roll out to all Snapchat users. Snapchat told TechCrunch that all links shared in Snaps must abide by the company’s terms of service, community guidelines and privacy policy. To warn users about potential malware or phishing scams, Snap will also use information from Google’s Safe Browsing service, together with its own automated trust and safety tools

Take a new Snap > tap the paperclip icon > either paste in a link or search for a specific website > tap “Attach to Snap” > tap the Send button, select a contact and send your Snap as normal. When the person receives your Snap they will see an up arrow and the name of the website at the bottom of the Snap. When they swipe up on the Snap they will be taken to the relevant website.

Add voice filters to your Snaps

Previously, Snapchat’s voice filters formed part of the visual augmented reality lenses, so you could choose to look and sound like a dog. The new voice filters will allow you to remix the sound of your voice only, based on a range of different voices, like a bear, cat, robot, etc.

Take a new Snap > on the Preview screen, tap the speaker icon > record your greeting > tap one of the voice filters or make your way through the list > when you are happy, you can send your Snap as normal.

Add backdrops to your Snaps

With Snapchat’s new background feature, you can choose the object in your Snap that you want in focus and then the rest of the background will receive the colorful or textured pattern that you select. Snapchat will update the range of backdrops frequently, giving you access to new options regularly.

Take a new Snap > on the Preview screen, tap the scissors icon in the vertical toolkit > tap the backdrop icon > outline the object that you want in focus and in front of the backdrop. If you don’t trace it perfectly the first time, you can do it as many times as necessary. Simply tap the undo button at the top and try again.

Once you have outlined the object(s) in your Snap, you can choose a backdrop from the options in the toolbar on the right > tap the scissors icon again to go back to the edit screen > add any additional edits > send your Snap as normal.

Source: Snapchat Support

Image: Snapchat