Snap Inc., the parent company of Snapchat, has launched a new type of filters. These filters leverage AR technology to allow the Snapchatters to scan currency notes and donate money to support COVID-19 response efforts undertaken by the World Health Organization (WHO). Snapchatters can access these lenses in the lens carousel, via Snapcode, or by using Scan in the audio-video sharing app.
The lenses are launched in partnership with the United Nations Foundation’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund in support of the WHO. For example, when a user views a 500 rupee currency note in the Snapchat camera and taps on it, he/she will be directed to the donation page for the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for WHO. The donation lens is active on other currencies as well such as pound, euro, dollar. This is in addition to a proactive approach that the company has taken to deliver credible, fact-based information on the platform.
‘These new AR lenses build on Snap’s efforts to support Snapchatters and the partners to navigate this unprecedented challenge together. Snap has believed that Snapchatters play a critical role in stopping the spread of the virus; and has seen increased engagement across the platform, including in Snaps sent between best friends, voice, and video calling,’ the company said in a statement.
Apart from this, the company is onboarding new editorial partners and is regularly producing coverage and updating Discover with tips and information about COVID-19. To date, Snap has produced over 445 Discover Stories or Shows on COVID-19, and over 68 million Snapchatters worldwide have viewed COVID-19-related content on Snapchat. There are creative tools, including a new Snappable myth-busting game that is based on guidance from the WHO, an informational lens in partnership with the WHO that lets Snapchatters share safety tips in a visual way, and new features in Zenly app (by Snapchat).
