Snapchat Planets Explained

Summary:

Snapchat planets are a fun, visual feature available to Snapchat+ subscribers that represent your closest friends using a solar system model. Each planet corresponds to a specific spot in your friend ranking, showing how close you are to someone on the app. In this guide, we’ll explain what each planet means, how Snapchat determines your planet status, and how to view your planets. Whether you’re a casual Snapchatter or a Plus subscriber looking to get the most out of your experience, this article will help you understand everything about Snapchat planets.

What Are Snapchat Planets?

Snapchat planets are part of the Snapchat Plus subscription and are designed to represent your best friends in a creative and interactive way. The feature transforms your top eight Snapchat friends into planets orbiting your “sun”—you. Each planet corresponds to a specific rank in your Best Friends list, from closest (Mercury) to least close in the top eight (Neptune).

Think of it like your own mini solar system where the gravity isn’t physics—it’s based on how much you interact with each friend.

How Snapchat Planets Work

When you subscribe to Snapchat+, you gain access to several exclusive features, one of the most engaging being Snapchat planets. Here’s how the concept breaks down:

• You (the user) are represented as the sun.
• Your top 8 friends are represented as planets, based on how frequently you interact with them.
• The closer the planet is to the sun (you), the more you interact with that friend.
• Each friend also gets a custom bitmoji-style representation of their planet, with added details like color and orbiting hearts to show friendship intensity.

Snapchat doesn’t publicly release the full algorithm behind these rankings, but it’s generally accepted that chats, snaps, video calls, and story views all influence your planet ranking.

What Each Snapchat Planet Means

Let’s go through each Snapchat planet and what it represents in the context of your friendships:

🌍 Mercury – Your #1 Best Friend

Mercury is the closest planet to the sun. If someone is your Mercury on Snapchat planets, they are the person you interact with the most. Expect to see this friend at the top of your chat list constantly.

🌕 Venus – Your #2 Best Friend

Venus means you’re still super close, just not quite #1. You probably exchange regular snaps and messages daily, but just slightly less than with your Mercury.

🌎 Earth – Your #3 Best Friend

As your Earth friend, this person is still in your tight circle. You share frequent communication and probably comment on each other’s stories often.

🔴 Mars – Your #4 Best Friend

Mars indicates a friend with solid interaction, though not as close as the top three. You probably exchange messages and snaps occasionally throughout the week.

🪐 Jupiter – Your #5 Best Friend

Jupiter friends are still important, but you might not chat as much daily. These are the friends you keep in touch with but maybe not in a constant loop.

🟡 Saturn – Your #6 Best Friend

Saturn is more of an occasional contact. You interact now and then, but it’s not consistent. The ring detail around Saturn reflects a more distant relationship.

🌀 Uranus – Your #7 Best Friend

Uranus shows someone you engage with every so often—maybe you chat on birthdays or big events. The friendship is light but present.

🔵 Neptune – Your #8 Best Friend

Neptune is the farthest planet in the system, representing the person you interact with the least in your top 8. You’re still friends, but the bond isn’t as strong compared to others.

Where to Find Snapchat Planets

Snapchat planets are only visible to Snapchat Plus subscribers. Here’s how to access them:

1. Subscribe to Snapchat+
   Go to your Snapchat profile and tap on the Snapchat+ banner to subscribe. Plans are available for a small monthly fee.
2. Check Your Best Friends Solar System
   Tap on a friend’s Bitmoji from your Chat screen. If they’re in your top 8, you’ll see their planet along with details like which one they are and what that means.
3. Explore Interactions
   Tap the friendship profile to get a more detailed view of your interactions, including your streaks, shared media, and their planet position.

Snapchat Planets vs. Best Friends List

While both features are connected, they offer slightly different perspectives:

• Best Friends List: Shows up to 8 friends you interact with the most.
• Snapchat Planets: Adds a visual and creative layer by mapping those friends onto a planetary model.

Essentially, planets visualize your Best Friends list in a more engaging way, making it easier (and more fun) to see who your closest contacts are.

How Does Snapchat Decide Your Planets?

Snapchat doesn’t share the exact formula, but the planets are based on:

• Number of snaps sent and received
• Chat frequency
• Story views and replies
• Video or voice calls
• Time spent interacting in-app

This makes the Snapchat planets feature a good representation of your real-time digital relationships.

Can Snapchat Planets Change?

Yes, Snapchat planets aren’t permanent. Your planet lineup can shift based on your interaction patterns. If you start snapping someone more than your current #1, they could move up from Venus to Mercury. This makes it a dynamic system that reflects your current friendship priorities on the app.

Is the Snapchat Planets Feature Private?

Absolutely. Only you can see your planet system, and your friends won’t be notified about their position in your solar system. This adds a layer of privacy and avoids any awkward conversations about who’s “closer” to whom.

What Snapchat Plus Offers Besides Planets

Snapchat Planets are just one benefit of Snapchat+. Other features include:

• Custom App Icons: Choose how Snapchat appears on your home screen.
• Story Rewatch Count: See how many times your story was viewed.
• Friend Solar System: Visualize your top friends as planets.
• Snap Map Ghost Trails: See your friends’ recent locations.
• Priority Story Replies: Your replies are more visible to verified users.

These features are designed to enhance user engagement and make Snapchat more personalized.

Why Snapchat Planets Appeal to Users

People enjoy Snapchat planets for several reasons:

• Visual Appeal: The colorful solar system is a unique way to visualize friendships.
• Gamification: It adds a competitive, fun element to who you interact with most.
• Emotional Connection: Seeing someone as your Mercury can make that bond feel more special.
• Exclusivity: Only Snapchat+ users get it, making it a bit of a status symbol within the app.

Can You Change or Edit Snapchat Planets?

No, the planets are automatically assigned and updated based on your behavior on the app. You can’t manually edit someone’s position or remove them from the planetary system unless you drastically reduce interaction.

Tips to Become Someone’s Mercury

Want to climb to the top of a friend’s solar system? Try this:

• Snap them regularly (more than others)
• Keep conversations going in chat
• React and reply to their stories
• Send streaks and video messages
• Share Bitmoji stories and games

Consistency is key, and regular interaction is what drives the rankings.

Snapchat Planets: A New Social Layer

Snapchat’s move to introduce planets reflects a broader trend in social media: personalization and engagement. By tapping into your natural curiosity about your friendships, the app encourages users to communicate more often and maintain stronger bonds.

It’s not just about vanity; Snapchat planets actually offer an insightful (and entertaining) look into your closest connections, making the app feel even more socially dynamic.

Frequently Asked Questions About Snapchat Planets

Q: Do both friends need to have Snapchat Plus to see planets?
A: No. Only you need to be subscribed to Snapchat+ to see your friends as planets. They won’t see anything unless they subscribe too.

Q: How often are planets updated?
A: There’s no official update frequency, but changes can happen as fast as your interaction habits shift—often daily or weekly.

Q: Can I hide someone from my Snapchat planets?
A: No, but by reducing interaction with that person, they may eventually fall out of your top 8.

Final Thoughts

Snapchat planets offer a clever, visual way to see who matters most in your Snap world. They turn data into a personalized galaxy of friendship, giving you insights into your social habits while keeping things fun and lighthearted. Whether you’re chasing that Mercury spot or just want to see who’s orbiting your digital sun, Snapchat planets make the experience more interactive and meaningful.

If you’re already on Snapchat+ or thinking about upgrading, this feature alone adds a layer of playfulness that’s worth exploring.