Snapchat opens its “Pandora’s (online) box” as it announced that will start charging for storing photos and videos – Something that triggers reactions from users who have created a large file of old posts.

Previously, the popular messaging application has allowed users to store content published in “Memories” since it was released in 2016.

However, it says that people with memories of over 5 gigabytes (GB) should now pay to keep them available.

The parent company, Snap, refused to answer the BBC News how much storage programs would cost to UK users, saying that change would only take place in the context of a “gradual world -release”.

Users on social media reacted with frustration, accusing the company of greed.

Snap admitted that ‘It is never easy to switch from freely receiving a service to payment for it’ – but argued that the change ‘Worth the cost’ For users.

“These changes will allow us to continue investing in improving memories for our whole community.”she told her blog announcing the traffic.

He added that more than a trillion memories have been stored by users since this feature was adopted almost a decade ago.

The function allows users to store photos and videos, which were originally shared for 24 hours or less on the platform, with users asking them to republish them as memories or “retrospectives” on a later date.

Users with more than 5GB of stored memories will be asked to upgrade to a 100GB storage program, according to the changes.

Increased storage levels will be available to users who pay for more expensive subscriptions, Snapchat+ and Snapchat Premium.

The company states that will provide 12 months of temporary storage For those who exceed the limit and users can download stored content on their device.

A company spokesman told the TechCrunch Technological Site that the original 100GB storage program will be $ 1.99 (€ 1.69) per month, with 250GB including $ 3.99 (3.39 euros) of a Snapchat+subscription.

‘Inevitable change’

Snap reports in its blog that the circulation of storage programs will not affect the “overwhelming majority of snapchatters”, which, as it states, use less than 5GB of memory.

However, this move has been criticized by some users on social media, with users sharing messages sent by the platform by telling them that they have to pay for storage to maintain their photos and videos.

Some say they have used Snap’s freely free storage for many years, which means they have much more than 5GB of data stored on the platform – so they now face large charges.

Others point out that being forced to choose between paying a subscription or loss of memories It is “unfair” and “greedy” on behalf of Snap.

Snap said in April that Snapchat had exceeded 900 million monthly active users – while opponents such as Instagram and Tiktok are boasting for billions.

Dru Benvi, founder and chief executive of the Social Media Directorate Battenhall, believes that eventually all social media platforms will begin to charge for the storage.

‘The road to paying for social media storage is inevitable‘, Clear at BBC News.