Say Cheese — and Pay: Snapchat’s Move to Charge for Old Snaps

Snapchat has stirred up strong reactions (mostly negative) after announcing it will soon charge users for storing old photos and videos in its Memories feature if they exceed a free storage limit. What used to be a free benefit may now come with a price tag — and many long-time users aren’t happy.

What’s Changing: The New Storage Policy

• Snapchat is introducing Memories Storage Plans for users whose saved content exceeds 5 GB. Arise News+3Snap Newsroom+3News.com.au+3

• If you have less than 5 GB of content in Memories, nothing changes — free access continues. Snap Newsroom+2The Economic Times+2

• For users above 5 GB, Snapchat offers paid plans including 100 GB, 250 GB (often bundled with Snapchat+), and 5 TB under higher tiers. The Times of India+4Snap Newsroom+4The Economic Times+4

• To ease the transition, Snapchat will give 12 months of temporary storage for content exceeding 5 GB, allowing users to download their Memories or decide whether to subscribe. Arise News+3Snap Newsroom+3News.com.au+3

• Snapchat’s official announcement says:

  “We’ll provide 12 months of temporary Memories storage for any Memories that exceed the 5 GB storage limit … For the vast majority of Snapchatters, who have less than 5 GB of Memories, nothing will change.” Snap Newsroom

Why Users Are Furious

• Many longtime users feel blindsided — they built years of memories under the assumption storage was free.

• Social media is flooded with posts like: “Half of my life is on this app and now they expect us to pay for it.” LinkedIn+1

• Some call the move “corporate greed,” accusing Snapchat of reneging on earlier promises. News.com.au+2Arise News+2

• There is also concern about whether smaller or less tech-savvy users, especially those who have accumulated many Snaps, will lose access to parts of their archives if they can’t or won’t pay.

The Business Case (and Risks)

• Revenue strategy: Snapchat is under pressure to diversify monetization beyond just ads. Charging for storage is one avenue. The Economic Times+2News.com.au+2

• Sustainability: Maintaining massive storage infrastructure for millions of users and trillions of saved items is expensive. Snapchat claims this move is needed to support future growth. Snap Newsroom+2News.com.au+2

• Backlash & trust damage: If users feel betrayed, some may abandon the platform or reduce usage, impacting engagement metrics.

• Legal / regulatory pressure: In some regions, changes to terms like this can attract scrutiny about fairness, transparency, or consumer protection.

What Users Can Do Right Now

• Download your Memories: Before any lockouts occur, users should export their photos/videos to their device or cloud backups.

• Review what’s stored: Delete unneeded Snaps or videos to stay under the free 5 GB threshold where possible.

• Compare plans: Evaluate which paid plan (100 GB, 250 GB, 5 TB) suits your usage.

• Stay informed: Watch for region-specific rollout schedules, as new changes usually roll out gradually.

This change marks a shift in how social apps treat “free” services. Snapchat is no longer just a messaging or photo app — it’s also a digital archive. Whether users adapt or revolt remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: for many, memories are more than data — they're personal legacies. Charging for them will strike a chord.