Snapchat is rolling out new features designed to make the app more useful and fun. The biggest change means you'll be able to view Snaps for as long as you want to, assuming the sender has opted in. Don't worry though, as Snaps will still disappear when the recipient has had enough.

The fundamental element of Snapchat has always been the ephemeral nature of the photos sent using the app. This is the feature that enabled Snapchat to grow as popular as it now is, and the feature that countless other apps have now copied. However, that ephemerality is evolving.

Snapchat's New Features

The new features, which should be available on Snapchat after you next update the app (on Android and on iOS) are:

Limitless Snaps: By selecting the Infinity icon in the Snap photo timer, recipients can view snaps for as long as they want. Once they close the snap they will still disappear as usual.

Looping Videos: You can make your Snapchat videos loop endlessly by tapping the looping icon when creating a Snap. This essentially turns your Snapchat videos into wannabe GIFs.

Draw With Emoji: You can now literally draw using an emoji as your brush. Select an emoji from the creative tools, and then draw or write on a photo to plaster it with your emoji of choice.

Magic Eraser: This clever little tool lets you remove objects from your Snaps. Simply select the Eraser icon, paint over an object you want removed, and the app will work its magic.

Snapchat's Reason for Being

These new features all offer solid enhancements to Snapchat. Limitless Snaps will be a good option for anyone who finds the current time limits too, well, limiting. And the creative tools are just more ways for millenials to waste time staring at their phones.

The only question is, "Is Snapchat losing its fundamental reason for being?" The drive to innovate in order to stay one step ahead of Instagram may just be Snapchat's eventual undoing. Because, while innovating is good, each new feature takes Snapchat further away from its roots.

Do you use Snapchat? Do you enjoy the ephemeral nature of the app? Or will you appreciate the chance to watch Snaps for as long as you want? Has there ever been an occasion when a Snap disappearing has caused you a problem? Please let us know in the comments below!

Image Credit: Maurizio Pesce via Flickr