Snapchat removes auto-advance feature for personal playlist

Snapchat, an image messaging and multimedia mobile application has scrapped its auto-advance function in favor of a new story playlist feature that's all about personalization.

The feature allows the app users to share a collection of images and videos during a 24-hour period.

Previously, the integration of auto-advance meant users would have to sit through all of the recent stories by profiles they follow back-to-back.

To make it easier to watch all your favourite friends' stories without the boring people in between, Snapchat is eliminating auto-advance, which automatically moved you on to the next reverse chronological story when you finished watching the last one.

The changes, which are rolling out now, begin with a demotion for Discover pages. Discover, which features a daily mix of text and video stories from big publishers, will now appear below your friends in the Stories feed.

Now, the user can add those stories to a playlist. To add a friend's story, tap the story thumbnail to the left of their name. After you've selected some friends, you can hit the play button that will pop up at the bottom of the screen.

Notably, stories in this feed will be monetized just as auto-advancing stories were - with interstitial ads between some of the stories. Snap will also now show you post-roll ads at the end of individual user stories, even if you haven't added them to a playlist.

Select Android users will get the features first with a full roll-out for both Android and iOS expected soon.