Liberal Party surprises with Snapchat lens | video, photos

The Liberal Party has bought into one of the most prevalent social media platforms for young and future voters, sponsoring a lens that apparently encourages people to vote or show their support for the party.

Lenses – also commonly known as filters – are a popular interactive feature that tap into selfie culture on the social media platform, as they warp, contort, enhance or place users in exotic backgrounds.

These include animals, zombies, wild west and island themes as well as contortion lenses that stretch or squash facial features. They change on a daily basis.

Avid users of the social platform who focused the screen on their face in search of a new, fun lens on Friday morning found an Australian flag icon waiting at the front of the options, having knocked off the long-reigning dog face from the front of the pack.

Users who tap on the flag icon are greeted by a ballot box and slip of paper, and unless they notice the caption lurking underneath the Snapchat buttons, could be in for a surprise when the slip unfurls.

“Vote Liberal.”

After the slip drops into the ballot box, it’s met with fanfare, confetti and a drop-down banner.

It is the only party to sport a Snapchat lens on election eve.

The lens is clearly marked as sponsored and notes it is “authorised by T. Nutt, Liberal Party, Canberra.”

On other social media channels, there has been a mixed reaction to the party’s last-minute grab.