Snapchat ghosts are ready to haunt the real world

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Photo: Snapchat
Photo: Snapchat

Snapchat plans to start showing up in more places than just your iPhone. After introducing Snapcodes for easily adding friends from within the app, the social network is now letting users customize and print their own branded ghosts to share in the real world.

It’s a novel idea that’s already spread like wildfire in the app itself. If you’re with someone in person who wants to add you on a Snapchat, you used to have to give them your username and have them manually add you. But for the past few months, you’ve been able to just hold up your personal QR Snapcode and let them scan it in Snapchat on their phone.

Starting today, Snapchat is “offering downloadable vector files and branding guidelines” for putting Snapcodes on everything from t shirts to stickers. Anyone can log into their Snapchat account online and download their Snapcode artwork with a set of guidelines.

How not to edit your Snapcode.
How not to edit your Snapcode.

While the dots and frame of the Snapcode can’t be edited, just about anything can be put in the ghost outline, like a logo. It’s an obvious way to promote for brands like Beats and Taco Bell that are already super active on Snapchat. DJ Steve Aoki told TechCrunch that he plans to put his Snapcode on t shirts and on big screens during performances.

Savvy small business and big brands will likely pounce on the ability to share their Snapcodes on everything from cash registers to jumbo screens during live events. The yellow ghost is here to stay.

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