Ever wondered why your closest friends on Snapchat are represented by planets in a quirky little solar system? Snapchat has gamified friendships in a new, creative way with its “Friend Solar System,” also known as Snapchat Planets. This unique feature offers users a fun, visual representation of their friendships, sparking curiosity and adding a layer of playfulness to the app.
In this blog post, we’ll break down exactly what Snapchat Planets are, how they work, what each planet means, and tips on how to move your position in the solar system.
What Is Snapchat Planets?
Snapchat Planets is part of the Snapchat+ subscription service, offering premium users a variety of new features to enhance their Snapchat experience. One standout feature is the “Friend Solar System,” which visually showcases the strength of your friendships. It uses planets symbolically to indicate your ranking in a friend’s list and their rank in yours.
The Solar System of Friends: How Snapchat Planets Work?
Snapchat Planets operates around the principle of closeness and interaction. Every best friend gets a planet associated with their ranking. For example, if you’re someone’s closest best friend on Snapchat, you might represent Mercury, the planet closest to the sun. If you’re farther down their list, you’ll find yourself symbolized by outer planets like Uranus or Neptune.
The solar system metaphor adds an element of gamification, as people aim to ascend to higher planets in someone’s friend solar system. It’s worth noting that Snapchat Planets is only visible to users of Snapchat+, so standard users won’t see it unless they subscribe.
Prerequisites for Snapchat Planets
- Snapchat+ Subscription: This feature is exclusive to Snapchat+, which is the paid tier of Snapchat. It comes with other benefits like story boosts, custom app icons, and exclusive badges.
- Mutual Best Friends Status: Snapchat Planets are only assigned to mutual best friends—meaning you both need to actively interact to build that friendship.
- Frequent Interaction: The ranking is determined by how often you chat, share snaps, or engage with each other’s content.
Understanding the Snapchat Friend Solar System
Snapchat’s Friend Solar System ranks best friends based on closeness and interaction levels. The planets in this system follow the natural order of our real-life solar system, starting from Mercury and ending with Neptune. The symbolism even aligns with the planets’ distances from the sun.
Here’s how the Friend Solar System works:
- Best Friend Rankings: Each planet represents a specific spot in the list of best friends. The closer the planet is to the sun, the higher your rank as a friend.
- Interactive Element: The solar system feature encourages users to engage more frequently to maintain or improve their rankings in someone’s Friend Solar System.
- Dynamic Updates: Your planet placement can change based on the level of your activity and interaction. It’s not fixed, so the rankings keep evolving.
The Meaning Behind Each Planet in Snapchat
Snapchat Planets aren’t just randomly assigned. Each has specific symbolism tied to its position in the solar system of friendships. Here’s what each planet represents:
| Planet | Meaning | Friend Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Mercury 🌑 | Your #1 Best Friend, and you are their #1 Best Friend. | 1st Closest |
| Venus 🌕 | You are one of their top best friends. | 2nd Closest |
| Earth 🌍 | You interact frequently, but they have other best friends. | 3rd Closest |
| Mars 🔴 | Close friends, but not the closest. | 4th Closest |
| Jupiter 🟠 | A good friend, but they interact more with others. | 5th Closest |
| Saturn 🟡 | You chat sometimes, but not very often. | 6th Closest |
| Uranus 🟣 | Rarely interact, but still on their best friends list. | 7th Closest |
| Neptune 🔵 | The least interactive among your best friends. | 8th Closest |
How to Move Up in the Snapchat Solar System
If you’re relegated to Uranus or Neptune and want to climb higher in someone’s solar system, there are clear ways to make it happen. It’s all about boosting interaction and enhancing engagement. Here’s how you can do it:
1. Snap and Chat More Often
Snapchat places a high value on the frequency of messages and snaps. Consistent chatting, sending streaks, and exchanging snaps can propel you to higher ranking planets like Mercury or Venus.
2. Maintain Snap Streaks
Nothing solidifies a Snapchat friendship quite like an ongoing streak. If you don’t already have one, start a streak with the person and keep it alive daily.
3. React to Stories and Posts
Engage with their stories by replying or reacting frequently. It shows Snapchat that you’re an active participant in their timeline.
4. Share Exclusive Snaps
Send personalized snaps rather than generic snap stories to add that extra layer of connection. Exclusive content tells Snapchat that you prioritize this friendship.
5. Avoid Losing Momentum
Consistency is key. If you go days or weeks without engaging, your planet ranking may drop. Stay active and maintain regular interaction to solidify your place.
Snapchat Planets vs. Other Social Media Features
| Feature | Snapchat Planets | Instagram Close Friends | Facebook Top Friends | Twitter Circles | WhatsApp Status Privacy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Shows your closest friends on Snapchat in a solar system format | Allows sharing Stories with selected people | Displays top friends on your profile (legacy feature) | Lets users tweet to a private group | Controls who can see your status updates |
| Visual Representation | Planet-based ranking system | Green circle around Stories | List of friends (now removed) | No visual ranking, just a private audience | No ranking, just privacy settings |
| Customization | No manual selection; based on interaction | User selects close friends | Previously manual, now removed | User selects members | User selects who can see statuses |
| Visibility | Only you can see your planet ranking | Only you can see your list | Previously public, now removed | Only members see the tweets | Only selected contacts see statuses |
| Algorithm-Based? | Yes, based on interactions | No, manual selection | Previously manual | No, manual selection | No, manual selection |
Conclusion
Snapchat Planets is reshaping how we think about friendships in the digital age. By letting us visualize our closeness with others, it encourages authentic interaction while adding a layer of fun. Whether you’re Mercury-tier or hanging out on Neptune, every user has an opportunity to brighten their spot in someone else’s solar system.
