Have you ever noticed the eye emoji (👀) next to the view count on your Snapchat story? If you‘re a Snapchat Plus subscriber, you might be wondering what this mysterious icon means and how it can help you better understand your audience. In this blog post, we‘ll dive deep into the world of Snapchat Plus and uncover the secrets behind the eyes on your Snapchat story.
What is Snapchat Plus?
Launched in 2022, Snapchat Plus is a premium subscription service that offers exclusive features and benefits to Snapchat users. For a monthly fee of $3.99, subscribers gain access to a range of cool perks, such as the ability to change the app icon, see who has rewatched their stories, and pin a #1 BFF.
According to Snapchat, the Plus subscription is designed to give users "a collection of exclusive, experimental, and pre-release features" that enhance their Snapchat experience. As of 2024, Snapchat Plus has over 2 million paying subscribers, making it a significant revenue stream for the company.
The Eye Emoji and Rewatch Count
One of the most intriguing features of Snapchat Plus is the eye emoji and rewatch count. When you post a story, you‘ll see the usual view count next to an eye icon. The number next to the eye tells you how many times your story has been rewatched by your friends.
For example, if you see "👀10" next to your story, it means that your story has been rewatched 10 times by your friends. However, it‘s important to note that the rewatch count only includes unique views, not multiple rewatches by the same person. So if your best friend rewatches your story 5 times, it will still only count as one rewatch.
The rewatch count feature is available for all types of stories, including My Story, Private Story, and Shared Story. However, it‘s not available for Snapchat Spotlight or Stories in Group Chats.
The Psychology of Rewatching
So why do people rewatch stories on Snapchat? According to Dr. Pamela Rutledge, Director of the Media Psychology Research Center, there are several psychological factors that might motivate someone to rewatch a story:
- Enjoyment: If someone finds your story particularly entertaining, funny, or engaging, they might want to rewatch it to experience that positive emotion again.
- Information: If your story contains important or valuable information, someone might rewatch it to make sure they didn‘t miss anything or to commit the information to memory.
- Connection: Rewatching a story can be a way of feeling more connected to the person who posted it, especially if the story is particularly personal or intimate.
- Curiosity: If your story ends on a cliffhanger or leaves some questions unanswered, someone might rewatch it to see if they can pick up on any additional clues or details.
Of course, these are just a few possible reasons why someone might rewatch a story, and the specific motivation will vary from person to person and story to story.
Impact on Content Creation and User Behavior
The addition of the rewatch count feature has the potential to impact both content creation and user behavior on Snapchat. For content creators, seeing which stories are being rewatched the most can provide valuable insights into what types of content resonate with their audience. This data can help creators refine their content strategy and create more engaging stories in the future.
For users, the knowledge that their rewatches are being counted might influence their behavior on the platform. Some users might be motivated to rewatch stories more often in order to show support for their favorite creators or to signal their interest in a particular topic. Others might be more hesitant to rewatch stories if they don‘t want to appear too eager or invested.
Snapchat Plus Adoption and Usage
Since its launch in 2022, Snapchat Plus has seen steady growth in both adoption and usage. According to data from Sensor Tower, Snapchat Plus had over 1 million paying subscribers as of September 2022, just three months after its launch. By January 2023, that number had doubled to over 2 million subscribers.
| Date | Snapchat Plus Subscribers |
|---|---|
| June 2022 | 0 |
| September 2022 | 1.1 million |
| January 2023 | 2.2 million |
In terms of usage, Snapchat Plus subscribers tend to be more engaged and active on the platform compared to non-subscribers. According to Snapchat‘s Q4 2022 earnings report, Snapchat Plus subscribers have a 50% higher engagement rate than non-subscribers, and they spend an average of 30 minutes per day on the app.
These numbers suggest that Snapchat Plus is not only attracting a significant number of paying subscribers, but also driving increased engagement and usage among those subscribers.
The Future of Snapchat Plus
As Snapchat continues to evolve and add new features, it‘s likely that we‘ll see further updates and improvements to Snapchat Plus and its exclusive features. In a recent interview with The Verge, Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel hinted at some potential future directions for the subscription service:
"We‘re really excited about the potential for Snapchat Plus to help us create even more value for our community. We‘re always listening to feedback from our subscribers and thinking about new ways to enhance their experience on Snapchat. Whether it‘s through new creative tools, exclusive content, or more insights into their audience, we want to make sure that Snapchat Plus continues to offer something unique and valuable to our most passionate users."
Some potential future updates to Snapchat Plus could include:
- Expanded insights: In addition to the rewatch count, Snapchat Plus could offer subscribers more detailed analytics and insights into their audience, such as demographic information, top viewers, and engagement metrics.
- Exclusive filters and lenses: Snapchat Plus subscribers could get access to exclusive filters and lenses that are not available to non-subscribers, allowing them to create even more unique and engaging content.
- Priority support: Snapchat Plus subscribers could receive priority support from Snapchat‘s customer service team, ensuring that their questions and concerns are addressed quickly and efficiently.
- Ad-free experience: For an additional fee, Snapchat Plus subscribers could opt for an ad-free experience, removing all sponsored content and ads from their feeds.
Of course, these are just a few possibilities, and the specific updates and improvements will depend on feedback from subscribers and Snapchat‘s overall strategy and vision for the future.
Conclusion
The eye emoji and rewatch count feature on Snapchat Plus may seem like a small and insignificant addition, but it‘s actually a powerful tool for understanding your audience and measuring engagement. By seeing how many times your story has been rewatched, you can get a better sense of what content resonates with your friends and followers.
However, it‘s important to use the rewatch count feature responsibly and be aware of its limitations and potential privacy concerns. While it‘s fun to see who‘s engaging with your content, it‘s not a substitute for meaningful interaction and communication with your friends.
As Snapchat continues to evolve and add new features, it will be interesting to see how the rewatch count and other Snapchat Plus exclusives shape the future of the platform. Whether you‘re a casual user or a die-hard Snapchat fanatic, understanding the meaning behind the eyes on your story is key to making the most of your Snapchat experience.
Key Takeaways
- The eye emoji and rewatch count on Snapchat Plus stories show you how many times your story has been rewatched by unique viewers
- Rewatching a story can be motivated by enjoyment, information, connection, or curiosity
- The rewatch count feature has the potential to impact content creation and user behavior on Snapchat
- Snapchat Plus has seen steady growth in adoption and usage since its launch in 2022
- Future updates to Snapchat Plus could include expanded insights, exclusive filters and lenses, priority support, and an ad-free experience
- Understanding the meaning behind the eyes on your Snapchat story is key to making the most of your Snapchat experience and engaging with your audience effectively.
