Introduction
Ever wondered how close you actually are to your Snapchat friends? With Snapchat Planets, a popular feature within the Snapchat+ subscription, your friendships are visualized using a playful solar system theme. You’re placed at the center as the Sun, and your top friends appear as planets orbiting around you. Their distance represents how frequently you interact.
This space-themed feature is fun, interactive, and a creative twist on the traditional “best friends” list. But how does the Snapchat Solar System really work? And what does each planet say about your friendship level? Let’s explore.
What Are Snapchat Planets? (Friend Solar System Explained)
Snapchat Planets is an exclusive Snapchat+ feature that transforms your top friends into a visual galaxy. Rather than a simple list, the app uses an orbit-based friendship ranking system, where your friends revolve around you based on engagement levels.
The closer the planet is to the Sun (you), the stronger or more frequent the interaction. This includes snaps, chats, reactions, stories, and overall engagement.
In short, the Snapchat Solar System provides a gamified view of your friendships, showing who you connect with the most.
How Snapchat Calculates Planet Rankings
Snapchat analyzes several engagement signals to determine each friend’s planet placement. These include:
- How often you exchange Snaps
- Frequency of chat messages
- Story reactions and replies
- Consistency of interactions over time
From this data, Snapchat ranks your top eight friends and assigns each one a unique planet. These rankings update periodically as your activity changes, so your Snapchat Planet order may shift based on recent interactions.
What Each Snapchat Planet Means (Planet Order & Friendship Levels)
Snapchat assigns planets based on your top eight friends, following the real solar system order. Here’s what each planet means:
| Planet | Rank / Meaning | Friendship Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Mercury | #1 closest friend | Most frequent snaps, chats, and interactions. |
| Venus | #2 friend | High engagement, frequent communication. |
| Earth | #3 friend | Strong, steady interaction with balanced chats and snaps. |
| Mars | #4 friend | Good friend with regular but moderate engagement. |
| Jupiter | #5 friend | Consistent interaction; large presence but not top-tier. |
| Saturn | #6 friend | Recognizable connection; less frequent communication. |
| Uranus | #7 friend | Occasional chats or snaps. |
| Neptune | #8 friend | Least frequent contact among close friends. |
Note: Pluto is not included in Snapchat’s ranking system.
How to Enable and View Your Snapchat Planets
Here’s how to access your Snapchat Solar System:
- Open Snapchat.
- Go to your profile and tap Snapchat+.
- Enable the Solar System toggle.
- To view your planet placement:
- Open a friend’s profile
- Tap the Best Friends or Friends badge (the gold ring icon)
- If you’re in their top eight, you’ll see your Bitmoji on a planet
Important: You can only view your planet in their system, not their ranking in yours. This keeps the feature partially private.
Privacy, Mental Health & Controversies
Opt-In Only
Due to concerns about pressure and social comparison, Snapchat made the Solar System an opt-in feature for new Snapchat+ users. You have full control over whether others can see your planet rankings.
Social Anxiety & Teen Concerns
Some users — especially teens — reported feeling anxious over their friend ranking or “planet position.” Worrying about being “Neptune” instead of “Mercury” became a subtle form of social comparison.
Snapchat responded by giving users more privacy controls and clarity around friend ranking visibility.
Common Bugs & Glitches
Some users occasionally report:
- Blank profiles with no planet showing
- Missing Bitmoji on the Sun
- Snap Score delays
- Friend orbit not updating
These issues are usually linked to temporary syncing glitches.
Why Use Snapchat Planets? (Benefits & Perks)
Snapchat Planets can be a valuable feature for Snapchat+ users because it offers:
✔ A gamified way to track friendships
It makes seeing your top friends more interactive.
✔ More insight into your engagement patterns
You can understand which friendships are most active.
✔ Fun conversation starters
Asking “Why am I Mars in your solar system?” can spark playful chats.
✔ Added value for Snapchat+ subscribers
If you’re already subscribed, it enhances the social experience.
Limitations & Considerations
Before relying too heavily on the Snapchat Solar System, keep these in mind:
- Only Snapchat+ subscribers can access the feature
- Rankings reflect one-sided interaction data
- Some engagement types may carry more weight than others
- Friend planets can change frequently, which may feel unstable to some users
Real-World Insights & Quick Facts
- Snapchat redesigned the feature after concerns over social pressure among younger users.
- The planets follow the exact solar system order from Mercury to Neptune.
- Rankings are updated periodically based on your recent interaction trends.
Conclusion
Snapchat Planets transforms your friendships into a colorful, animated solar system — offering a fun way to visualize who you interact with most. While the feature adds playful insight into your connections, it’s also sensitive to privacy and social dynamics, which is why Snapchat made it optional.
For Snapchat+ users, it’s a unique tool to explore your social universe and understand your top friends more clearly.
FAQs (People Also Ask)
Q1: What do Snapchat Planets mean?
Snapchat Planets represent your top eight friends based on interaction levels. Each planet reflects how close or active your connection is.
Q2: How do I see which planet I am in someone’s solar system?
Open their profile → tap their Best Friends/Friends badge → view your Bitmoji on the associated planet.
Q3: Do I need Snapchat+ to use Snapchat Planets?
Yes, Snapchat Planets is a premium feature available only to Snapchat+ subscribers.
Q4: Why can’t I see a planet for a friend?
You may not be in their top eight, the Solar System may be turned off, or there could be a temporary app glitch.
Q5: Do planet rankings change?
Yes. Planets shift based on your recent engagement and interaction frequency.
Q6: Is the Snapchat Planets feature safe for mental health?
Snapchat made the feature optional after acknowledging that ranking friends could increase social anxiety for some users.
