Snap Inc. has moved to make Snapchat more useful with contextual information by adding a new feature called ‘Context Cards’ to its image messaging and multimedia mobile app. The goal is to turn Snapchat into a visual starting point that will supposedly help you discover things that may interest you and take relevant actions with respect to your spontaneous discovery. In order to get started, just swipe up on a particular Snap that comes with “More” details found at the bottom, and it will display relevant information such as maps, reviews, and tips on a specific Snap you are watching.
Keep in mind that while the Context Cards feature is expected to become ubiquitous in nearly every Snap you may see on Snapchat going forward, the tool will show up only on Snaps that were tagged with location-specific Geofilters or on Snaps that have been stored in the company’s public feed called “Our Story”. This public information will then make up the Stories that will be incorporated into the Context Cards of several venues so that more Snaps from other interesting places become available for viewing. Context Cards will include a number of basic details about a Snap such as the venue category, name of the place where the Snap was taken, and ratings submitted by partners. Depending on the kind of venue and data provided for the location, Context Cards may additionally contain other pieces of information like direction to a specific place, customer or critic reviews, hours when the venue is open, contact details, and website. This is thanks to Snap Inc.’s partners including Tripadvisor, Foursquare, Michelin and goop. On top of that, you can also perform several actions like hailing a ride using Lyft or Uber, or book a reservation at your favorite restaurant via Snap Inc.’s partners in this niche like Resy, OpenTable, or Bookatable.
In the future, Snap Inc. vows to expand the list of Context Cards partners as well as the information included in Snaps, taking cue from how Snapchat users are using the app moving forward. Context Cards will be rolled out in several territories including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia. Snap Inc. has previously added location-based features to its mobile app including the Snap Map, which lets you check in at any location or locate your friends and see their public activity.
