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Snapchat rankled some of its most loyal (and heavy) users when it announced last week it will begin charging for storage plans for Memories, its version of a digital archive for Snaps and stories. Even though the Santa Monica, California-based social media company promised that nothing will change for the vast majority of Snapchatters, who have less than 5 gigabytes (GB) of Memories, it will begin rolling out paid storage plans at a yet undisclosed date. A Snapchat spokesperson told Fast Company that a 100 GB storage plan will cost $1.99 per month, with prices varying by market and local currency. The company also told TechCrunch that plans will range up to $15.99 per month, depending on the amount of data of Memories. The company indicated you could have thousands of Snaps saved before youre bumped into a paid plan. But there is a work-around: You can download your data for free. Heres what you need to know if you want to download your Snapchat data. How to save your Snapchat Memories The popularity of the Memories feature, which was introduced by Snapchat in 2016, will now come at a cost. The company said that users have saved more than 1 trillion Memories since 2016, which is why its rolling out the storage plans. Its never easy to transition from receiving a service for free to paying for it, but we hope the value we provide with Memories is worth the cost, the company said in a blog post last week. While Snapchat will provide 12 months of temporary Memories storage for any Memories that exceed the 5GB storage limit, it hasnt specified when that free period will begin. Thats why you may want to be proactive if you really want to hang onto some Memories and download them to your device now. Luckily, thats really easily accomplished. After opening the Snapchat app, navigate to the Memories section, then choose select at the top of the page, and select up to 100 Memories at a time that you want to export. Then select a destination and tap download. If you have more than 100 Memories, youll need to repeat this process. How to save your Snapchat data If you want to squirrel away more data than your Memories, Snapchat is required by laws in various jurisdictions to allow its users to download their personal datawhich is true of other social media platforms, as well. If youve never downloaded this type of data in the past, a slight caveat: Depending on what information youre after and how active a Snapchatter youve been, you may be overwhelmed by the sheer amount of data at your disposal. While you may opt for the kitchen sink approach and download everything you can, those files may include minutiae you dont care about (like your login and search histories), along with more sentimental information you likely do care about (like your Memories and saved chat history). The good news is, you can also select the specific categories of data you want to download. Snapchat doesnt provide all of your information in a single neat filerather, youll receive a zip fileso youll want to be sure you have sufficient storage for the data. Heres the step-by-step process to download whatever Snapchat data you fancy: Open the Snapchat app, go to your profile and navigate to the settings icon Scroll to select My Data Select the specific you want to include in your data download Specify a specific data range of data youd like to download or receive all available data Confirm the email address where youd like to be notified Click submit to officially submit your data request Once your data is ready to be downloaded, youll receive an email from Snapchat with a link where you can access your information. As the company notes, this process can take time to complete, which users report can range from several hours to several weeks. Griping about Snap’s plan What Snapchat is doing, in essence, is transferring the cost of storage over to users. Download all those Memories onto your iPhone, for example, and that will just ratchet up the amount of data you have saved in your iCloud. Nearly two-thirds of Apple customers paid for iCloud storage in 2024, making it Apples most popular paid service, according to CIRP data. But unlike some of its rivals, including Instagram and TikTok, Snapchat is testing the waters of whether its users are willing to pay for storing social media posts. As people have lamented online, this may be the future of all social media platforms, or just another example of so-called subscription creep, in which were all paying for more and more subscriptions for things that once were free. But no matter their gripe, some people see these sorts of moves by social media giants as an excuse to bail. Now give me reasons why I should continue using Snapchat in 2025, one person wrote on Reddit. Oh wait, there arent any except my friends. Added another user on a different subreddit: It would be a shame if we just deleted social media.
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E-Commerce
Former Cisco Systems CEO John Chambers learned all about technology’s volatile highs and lows as a veteran of the internet’s early boom days during the late 1990s and the ensuing meltdown that followed the mania. And now he is seeing potential signs of the cycle repeating with another transformative technology as a whirlwind of investments and excitement about artificial intelligence has propelled the stock market to new highs. Chambers took a similarly meteoric ride in his early days running Cisco, which had a market value of about $15 billion in 1995, when networking equipment suddenly became must-have components for the buildup of the internet. The feverish demand briefly turned the firm into the world’s most valuable company worth $550 billion in March 2000 before the investment bubble burst. The crash caused Cisco’s stock price to plunge more than 80% during a period that Chambers still recalls as the worst of his career. Cisco bounced back to deliver consistent financial growth to help establish Chambers as one of Silicon Valley’s most respected leaders before he stepped down as CEO in 2015, but company’s stock price has never approached the peak it reached a quarter century ago. While remaining Cisco’s chairman emeritus, Chambers is now as fascinated by the AI’s transformative powers as he once was by the internet revolution. Only this time he is advising CEOs as a venture capitalist investing in AI startups rather than running a company himself. Chambers, 76, recently discussed the promise and perils of the AI boom with The Associated Press. The interview has been edited for clarity. Q: Does the current AI mania remind you of the internet boom of the 1990s? A: Absolutely. There are a lot of parallels but there are also some spectacular differences. AI is moving at five times the speed and will produce three times the outcomes of the internet age. In the internet age, a startup would develop products for two years and then in year three, they would take that out into the market. Today, AI startups develop the product in a month and sometimes in a week, and then they bring it to market in one or two quarters. In the internet age, there was an irrational exuberance on a really large scale. In this AI one, there is a lot of tremendous optimism that does indicate a future bubble for certain companies. Is there going to be train wreck? Yes, for those that arent able to translate the technology into a sustainable competitive advantage, how are you going to generate revenue after all the money you poured into it? Q: Do you think AI is going to eliminate a lot of jobs? A: It happened with the internet. The problem this time is that if I am right about AI moving at five times the speed of the internet, we are going to destroy jobs faster than we can replace them. Will we be able to replace them over time? Yes, but there is going to be a drought while we have to re-educate lots of people. Q: Does that worry you? A: Big time! Q: What do we need to be doing to be prepared for this upheaval? A: We need to change education. Entry-level jobs, both white and blue collar, are going to disappear fast. We are creating more productivity, but we have to create more jobs as well. If companies start making more money, they are either going to increase the dividend or invest in new areas. Hopefully, the majority will invest in new areas to create new jobs. You will see successful companies expand and grow dramatically, but you are probably going to see 50% of the Fortune 500 companies disappear and 50% of the executives of the Fortune 500 disappear. They wont have the skills to adjust to this new innovation economy driven by AI because they were trained in silos they were trained to move at the speed of a five-year cycle as opposed to a 12-month cycle. Q: Do you think this is one of the most uncertain times you have ever seen? A: Its the most uncertain time on a global basis, ever. I would argue that this is the new normal. With the speed the market is moving at now, you have to be able to reinvent yourself, which most CEOs and business leaders dont know how to do, especially with AI. Q: Whats your view of how Big Tech has been working with President Donald Trump during his second term in office? A: Lets be realistic. Silicon Valley moved right, there shouldnt be any doubt. They did it for economic reasons. And practicality, they did it for their shareholders but also regulation was getting out of control. They werent able to grow and China was plainly beating us. Q: How worried are you about China? A: I think China has full intention to win at the U.S.s expense. In China, there are no rules, there is no intellectual property, there are no issues about misusing the power. They intend to blow past militarily, economically, and in every other way. I do not view them as a partner, I view them as a serious competitor on all fronts and someone I dont trust. I think over time people are going to recognize its in the U.S.s best interest and its in Chinas best interest for us to get along. So go out 10 years, and thats the most likely outcome. But I think the next five years are going to be really bumpy and dangerous. We should have no illusions that they intend to crush us. Michael Liedtke, AP technology writer
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E-Commerce
With foot traffic down and Targets stock still slumping, Taylor Swifts new album release might be the shot in the arm the retailer needs. Target may be in the crosshairs of the culture wars, but the brands relationship with Taylor Swift still stands in 2025. The release of The Life of a Showgirl again brings a suite of special editions to Target as exclusives, luring Swifties to spread their cash around to pick up their favorite variants. But between the retailers faltering reputation and a smorgasbord of album options, will Swifties take their business elsewhere? Targets very bad 2025 In January, Target announced that it would abandon longstanding initiatives tied to diversity, equity and inclusion and stop participating in external surveys focused on diversity, like the Human Rights Campaigns Corporate Equality Index. The news came days after the White House called for a federal ban on DEI programs. In March, Atlanta pastor Rev. Jamal Bryant called for a Target Fast to punish the company for turning its back on Black-owned businesses and Black consumers. When Target broke its promises to our community pledges made after the murder of George Floyd we acted, Bryant wrote on the TargetFast website. Our response was not rooted in cancel culture, but in moral clarity. When Target didnt respond, what began as a limited 40-day boycott extended indefinitely, adding a call for the resignation of Targets CEO. Boycotts dont always end up hurting a companys bottom line, but Target has been feeling the pain well into 2025. Targets DEI retreat in 2025 compounded its previous decision to mute its Pride Month collection, which the company had sold for years. That decision, prompted by a conservative outcry backed by Republican lawmakers, alienated many LGBTQ customers who no longer consider the retailer a top choice when they shop. Targets problems didnt begin this year the companys share price has slumped from its pandemic peaks and trended downward since. But the brands carefree, youthful image has definitely taken a hit from the extended boycott and foot traffic remains down, even through the normally busy back-to-school season. Targets CEO, who has led the company for more than a decade including through its now-distant boom times will depart at the beginning of next year. The Life of a Showgirls many faces The album, released at midnight on October 3, is available as a special limited run vinyl record at Target. The first and only pressing of the The Life of a Showgirl: The Crowd Is Your King edition is available at the retailer for $34.99. The limited edition Target version comes in pearlescent pink and light yellow (summertime spritz pink shimmer, for Swifties keeping track). The record is packed with a collectible double sided poster, new photos and a poem written by Taylor herself. Swifties that find themselves bereft of a record player can opt instead for three Target exclusive CD versions of the album (Its Beautiful, Its Frightening and Its Rapturous) each with a special poster and unique album art for $14.99. Image via Target At Target, every album release is a chance to celebrate with our guests, Targets Senior Vice President of Merchandising Cassandra Jones said in the companys pre-sale announcement. Taylor Swifts The Life of a Showgirl is already the years biggest music moment, and were giving fans even more reasons to get excited. From exclusive vinyl and CD editions available only at Target to midnight releases and curated music experiences in our stores, were proud to be a destination where fans can discover, connect and take home something truly special. Target isnt the only option for Swift fans hunting for special vinyl, but it might be the only choice left for fans who missed the pre-order windows. Dyed-in-the-wool Swifties likely already pre-ordered the red or white variants of the Tiny Bubbles in Champagne Vinyl Collection directly or the lovely bouquet golden vinyl or lakeside beach blue sparkle vinyl variants, which sold out quickly through Swifts online store. The Life of a Showgirl: The Shiny Bug Vinyl Collection featuring special violet shimmer marbled vinyl and wintergreen and onyx marbled vinyl similarly sold out quickly, and is naturally all over resale websites at marked up prices. Taylor Swift speaks out Swift has broken her historical reluctance to wade into political and cultural issues in recent years. She unequivocally denounced President Trump in his first term for stoking the fires of white supremacy and racism during the protests over the murder of George Floyd, throwing the weight of her Swiftieverse behind voting him out of office. In late 2024, she backed Kamala Harris in the vice presidents last minute run, encouraging her fans to register to vote and make their own informed choices. Im voting for @kamalaharris because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them, Swift wrote in an Instagram post. I was so heartened and impressed by her selection of running mate @timwalz, who has been standing up for LGBTQ+ rights, IVF, and a womans right to her own body for decades. Swift signed off as a childless cat lady, a dig at JD Vance. While Swifts politics dont square with Targets retreat on LGBTQ and racial justice issues, her deal with the company is nothing new. Swift has been selling exclusives through Target since at least 2008, when the retailer offered a unique collectible poster version of her album Fearless. For The Death of a Showgirl, Swift even devoted some of her prime Instagram real estate to a Target ad that depicts the star directing an awkward version of herself on set, tossing glitter at a giant sparkly pink vinyl record while almost falling over. Swift isnt alone: Artists including Billie Eilish and Kendrick Lamar have promoted their own Target vinyl exclusives since the cultural fallout around the company began. Olivia Rodrigo, boygenius, Harry Styles, Lana Del Ray and many other musicians have sold their own unique vinyl exclusives through the retailer in recent years. Last year, Target carried an exclusive phantom clear vinyl pressing of Swifts release, The Tortured Poets Department, which the company said broke its record for the largest music pre-order in its history. Over the years, Target has offered at least 13 unique versions of Taylor Swifts albums, counting The Life of a Showgirl. While Swifts ongoing Target deal might not sit well with many Swifties given the companys recent direction, only time and sales numbers will tell if the allure of that sparkly, pink record proves too much to resist.
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E-Commerce
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