This Is How To Get Context Cards On Snapchat

Ever see something posted on Snapchat, like a seriously extra ice cream cone, and wish you could just swipe through for more information about what's in your friend's pic? Well, you're going to want to know how to get context cards on Snapchat, because the brand-new feature allows you to do just that. Context cards are a new "swipe up for more" feature that is exactly what it sounds like: context. (Like what you need to do to get that exact ice cream cone in your very own hands.)

Snapchat has partnered with companies like TripAdvisor, goop, Foursquare, OpenTable, Uber, and more, to give us the opportunity to give our snaps much more context, according to the company. Now, every story that we share has the capability to be fully loaded, as long as the location is shared, too. Share your epic brunch with context cards, and give your friends and followers the ability to check out the restaurant, read reviews, book their own reservation, map out directions, or order a ride sharing service — all from that very snap.

Before context cards, we'd have to put on our snooping hats to figure out the information behind the snap. You'd have to leave the app, start looking things up on Yelp or Googling clues, wasting tons of time trying to solve a mystery that thankfully, will no longer be a mystery. With context cards, geotagging and integrated apps with make getting the story behind the story as simple as swiping up. Literally.

So now, when you submit a full tagged story to Our Story, it might end up in a context card for the location you're submitting from. And on the flip side, wherever you are, you'll be able to look through context card stories of people in your area. Gone are the days of FOMO-inducing swiping. You no longer have to sit home watching all the fun and having no idea where exactly it is and how you can be a part of it. Now, you can see the image, get the info, read all about it, watch other videos from the same location, and figure out exactly how to get there, how much it will cost and how long it will take without ever leaving the app. Context cards will ensure that you don't miss out on anything.

Not only will this new feature help you learn more about what your friends are up to, but it will work as a great travel resource. Every time I'm in a new city, looking for food or fun, I never know where to look. Now, I'll be able to just check out my current location context cards and swipe through what's going on in the neighborhood. There, I can learn about the city I'm in, what people are up to and what other tourists think of it. And honestly, it seems like this new feature will be great for businesses. The extension will allow people to promote the brands and businesses that they like, giving them exposure to people who might not have other wise heard of them. But of course, if you've discovered the best hidden pizza joint in your neighborhood or found a perfectly preserved secret trail in a state park, you might want to keep those things sacred and opt not to share the context. It will be up to you what locations you share, Snapchat isn't trying to blow up your favorite spots, they're just trying to give you the opportunity to share what you want to share, more efficiently. Here's how you'll use the new feature:

Obsessed already? Same. The good news is that you don't have to do much to get context cards, if you don't already see them. (As the Los Angeles Times reports, you'll begin seeing the word "more" on the bottom of photos from users who have shared their location, and you can simply swipe up to access the cards.) The feature will begin to roll out starting today, so make sure that you're using the latest version of Snapchat, and check back to see if you have the update. But don't freak out if you don't, it's surely coming your way. Patience, grasshopper.