Snapchat released a new feature Tuesday that will let users put 3D cartoon objects in their photos, The New York Times reports. They’re called “world lenses,” according to The Verge. One of the reasons for this new feature is to stay a step ahead of Facebook, which has recently introduced a story feature similar to those available on Snapchat and Instagram.
The feature is similar to Pokemon Go—putting a 3D image over a real-world picture so it looks like it’s part of the landscape. When you’re using the rear-facing camera on Snapchat, just tap the screen to start using these 3D images. You can add things like the word “OMG,” a rainbow, a popsicle kissing face, or a coffee mug. Above, you can see the coffee mug hanging out in the Her Campus offices.
The Times notes that Snapchat’s under a lot of pressure to come up with cool new features like this, especially because they’ve gone public with their stock. Snapchat is only valuable if it’s unique, and lately you may have noticed that platforms like Instagram and Facebook have been copying Snapchat’s model. It seems that almost every social media app you see now gives you the ability to post “stories,” a feature that was once only on Snapchat. Their other well-known feature, images that disappear, is also being used by Instagram and Facebook now as well.