Ever opened Snapchat, tapped on a friend’s profile, and seen a little badge that says you’re their "Mercury" or "Venus"? It’s weirdly addictive. You start checking it every day. You wonder why you dropped from Mars to Jupiter overnight. Snapchat’s Solar System—specifically the best friends snap planets feature—is one of those social gamification tools that manages to be both fun and incredibly stressful for anyone who cares about their "inner circle" status.
Basically, it's a visual representation of how close you are to someone based on your interaction frequency. If you’re a Snapchat+ subscriber, you get to see exactly where you stand in a friend's orbit.
But it isn't just about sending one or two memes. It’s about volume. It’s about consistency. And honestly, it’s about understanding the "order" of the planets, because Snapchat doesn’t exactly give you a manual when you sign up.
The Hierarchy of Best Friends Snap Planets
The system uses the actual order of planets in our solar system to rank your friendship. Mercury is the closest to the Sun. In this metaphor, your friend is the Sun. If you are their Mercury, you are the person they talk to the most. Period.
It gets trickier as you move further out.
Venus is second. Earth is third. Mars is fourth. If you see yourself as a Jupiter or a Saturn, you're still in the top group, but you aren't the primary focus of their digital attention. By the time you hit Uranus or Neptune, you're basically "just another friend" in the ranking system, even if you still feel like you talk to them constantly.
You have to realize that this ranking is private to you. You can see where you stand in their solar system, but they don't necessarily see where they stand in yours unless they are also a Snapchat+ member and go looking for it. It’s a bit of a psychological playground.
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Why Mercury Is the Goal (And Why It's Hard to Keep)
Being Mercury is the ultimate flex. It means you have the highest "friendship score" with that person compared to everyone else they interact with. This is calculated through a mix of sent snaps and received snaps. Chatting counts, too, but snaps are the heavy lifters.
If you stop snapping for a day, you might see yourself drift. You might drop to Venus. It feels personal. It’s not, though—it’s just math. The algorithm is cold.
The Mystery of the Gold Ring
One of the biggest points of confusion with best friends snap planets is the "Gold Ring" visual. If you see a gold ring around a friend's profile, it means you are both in each other's top eight friends. However, the planetary system specifically refers to the Snapchat+ Friend Solar System.
You need that subscription. Without it, the planets stay hidden.
People often ask if the planets are based on "Streaks." Not exactly. While a long streak usually means you’re high up in the orbit, you could have a 500-day streak with someone but only send one snap a day. Meanwhile, they might be sending 50 snaps a day to a new person. In that scenario, the new person becomes Mercury, and you get relegated to the outer edges of the solar system despite the long streak.
It’s about the recent density of communication.
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Why Snapchat Made This Feature Optional
Interestingly, Snapchat actually faced some backlash over this. For a while, the "Solar System" was a core part of the Plus experience that was always visible. But users reported it caused "friendship anxiety." Imagine seeing that you’ve dropped from Earth to Neptune in your crush’s solar system. It’s a gut punch.
In 2024, Snap Inc. moved to make the feature "opt-in." They realized that while some people love the data, others found it toxic. They actually stated that the goal was to provide "additional context" for close friendships, not to spark jealousy.
You can now choose to turn the feature on or off in your settings. If you’re the type of person who overanalyzes why a friend hasn't replied to a message, honestly, just keep it off. It’s better for your mental health.
How to Move Up the Ranks
If you're determined to hit that Mercury spot, there are a few things you should know. It’s not just about the number of snaps. It’s about the reciprocity.
- Snap regularly. Sending one "Good Morning" snap isn't enough if they have other friends who are active all day.
- Use Video. There is some anecdotal evidence from power users that video snaps and multi-snaps weigh slightly differently in the "closeness" algorithm, though Snap hasn't officially confirmed the exact weights.
- Group chats don't count. Interactions in a group don't typically influence your individual planetary ranking. It has to be 1-on-1.
- The "Double Snap." Replying to their snaps immediately keeps the interaction loop tight, which the algorithm loves.
Breaking Down the Visuals
Each planet has a specific look. Mercury is a pink/reddish rock. Venus is yellow with some patterns. Earth is, well, Earth—green and blue. Mars is red with some little craters.
When you get to the outer planets like Jupiter and Saturn, the colors get more muted. Saturn still has its rings, which is a nice touch. Uranus is a solid light blue, and Neptune is a darker, deeper blue.
If you tap on the "Best Friends" badge on a profile, it will explicitly tell you: "You're in their Solar System!" and then show your planet. If you aren't in their top eight, you won't see a planet at all. This is the ultimate "friendzone" indicator in the digital age.
Common Misconceptions About Snapchat Plus
A lot of people think that buying Snapchat+ automatically makes them a "Best Friend" to everyone. Nope. It just gives you the tools to see the data. You still have to put in the work.
Also, the "Solar System" is different from the "BFF" or "Super BFF" emojis. Those emojis (the yellow and red hearts) are visible to both parties and indicate mutual top-ranking status. The planets are more of a one-way mirror provided by the subscription service.
The Technical Side of Friendship Rankings
Snapchat’s engineers use a rolling window of time to calculate these rankings. It isn't a lifetime achievement award. Usually, the algorithm looks at the last 7 to 14 days of activity. This is why the rankings shift so rapidly.
If a friend goes on vacation and loses service for a week, they will likely drop in your solar system, and you will drop in theirs. It doesn't mean the friendship is over; it just means the data points stopped flowing.
We also have to consider the "ghosting" factor. If you send 100 snaps and they open none, your ranking won't climb as much as if they were replying. The "interaction" needs to be two-sided to really cement a spot as Mercury or Venus.
Actionable Steps for Managing Your Snapchat Status
If you're using the best friends snap planets feature, you should approach it with a bit of detachment. It's a game. Here is how to handle it effectively:
- Check your settings. If you don't see the planets, make sure you have an active Snapchat+ subscription and that the "Friend Solar System" toggle is turned on in your profile settings.
- Don't overthink the "Drop." If you move from Venus to Earth, it might just mean your friend had a long conversation with someone else that day. It isn't a reflection of your real-world value.
- Use it for insights. If you see you’re the "Mercury" for someone you barely talk to, it might be a sign that they are trying to reach out more, or perhaps they don't have many active friends on the app.
- Prioritize real-life interaction. Use the planets as a fun metric, but remember that a "Mercury" badge doesn't replace a real-world hangout.
- Toggle it off if it hurts. If the rankings are making you feel insecure about your friendships, go to your Snapchat+ management page and turn the feature off. You'll still keep your other perks, but the planets will disappear.
The most important thing to remember is that these algorithms are designed to keep you on the app. They want you to snap more so you can "climb the ladder." Once you realize it's a retention tool, the pressure usually fades away. You can enjoy being a "Mars" without feeling like you've failed the friendship.
Ultimately, the best friends snap planets are a mirror of your digital habits. They show you who you spend your time with online. Sometimes that matches your real-life besties, and sometimes it just shows who you happen to send the most random memes to at 2:00 AM. Either way, it’s a fascinating look at how we quantify "closeness" in 2026.