Snapchat features borrowed by Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram

To begin with, Facebook is obsessed with Snapchat. The reason might be that Facebook tried to buy Snapchat a few years ago, but Snapchat declined the offer. Now, Facebook is behaving like that one stalker to Snapchat that just will not leave it alone.

Whether you call it “inspiration” or “borrow”, Facebook and its sister apps, Whatsapp and Instagram have clearly cloned many Snapchat features. However, even after using the Snapchat features in almost all of its apps, Snapchat popularity remains unaffected.

Here is a list of Snapchat features copied by Facebook and its properties- Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

Swipeable filters in the Facebook app

Similar to Snapchat, the Facebook app also allows you to add filters to your photos by swiping right or left on the photo that you upload. There are following seven filters that you can use in the Facebook app; Auto Mode, Vintage, spring, summer, fall, winter, and snow.

Overlay text/ Caption

All the Facebook-owned apps ( WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger and Facebook itself) now allow you to add overlay text to your photos, again similar to the Snapchat. Overlay text means the text will be placed on top of your photos and you can then modify the size and color of your text.

Also read: Instagram guide and tips for beginners

Ability to add stickers to the photos

This is another feature, which is ‘borrowed’ or ‘copied’, whatever you like to call it, from Snapchat. Snapchat was the first social application that allowed users to add stickers and emoticons on top of the photos. Facebook app was the first to copy this feature, followed by Facebook Messenger and finally, the feature came to WhatsApp and Instagram as well.

Ability to draw on the photos

All the Facebook-owned apps allow doodling on photos. You can draw on the photos with your fingers similar to Snapchat. The feature is available on WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Instagram and Facebook app as well.

Easy access to the camera

You might have noticed that Facebook has changed the location of camera icon in all the apps and made it more visible and easily accessible. In WhatsApp, the camera icon is located right next to the typing area. Even in Facebook Messenger, the camera icon is in the center and allows easy access now.

Stories

Facebook has shamelessly copied Snapchat stories and applied the formula of “If you can’t buy it, recreate it” to stories. Stories in all the Facebook-owned apps are a direct copy of Snapchat stories. All the features are exactly similar to the Snapchat stories, for example, the stories disappear after 24 hours and you can add stickers and overlay text to your photos.

Also read: Facebook Stories: 7 tips and tricks you should use

Ability to zoom using one finger only

Similar to Snapchat, Whatsapp and Instagram allow you to zoom in and out of your videos while recording by sliding your finger up and down the screen.

Quick switch between the cameras

Facebook has even copied one of the hidden features of Snapchat and similar to Snapchat, this feature remains hidden on Facebook-owned apps as well. On Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Facebook, you can switch between the rear and front-facing cameras by double tapping the screen.

Front Flash

Facebook-owned WhatsApp has also copied front-facing flash feature from Snapchat. Front-facing flash means the screen brightens up to the highest brightness so that the front camera works well in low light conditions and as a result, people are able to take better photos in the dark.

Also read: 8 cool new WhatsApp Status Tips and Tricks

Disappearing Direct messages

The disappearing Direct Messages feature of Instagram and Facebook stories is similar to the Direct Messages of Snapchat and the messages disappear forever once your friend has seen it.

There is a similar feature on Facebook Messenger called “Secret conversations” which is somewhat similar to Snapchat direct messages. In Facebook Messenger secret conversations, messages disappear forever after a certain time interval. The only difference is that Snapchat does not give you an option to set the time, whereas Facebook Messenger gives you the option to select the time after which your messages disappear. The time ranges from 5 seconds to 1 day and the default time is 10 seconds.