Snapchat is weirdly obsessed with space. If you've ever tapped on a "Best Friends" badge or seen a gold border around a friend's profile, you've likely encountered the solar system. It’s a bit opaque. Essentially, the app uses snap planets in order to rank how much you talk to people compared to everyone else they talk to. It isn't just about how many snaps you send; it's about the relative frequency and consistency of those interactions.
Most people think being "Mercury" is the end-all-be-all. It’s not. Sometimes being further out on the list tells a more interesting story about your social habits.
How the Snap Planets in Order Actually Rank
The system is basically a digital hierarchy of your social circle. If you are a subscriber to Snapchat+, you get to see where you stand in someone else's "solar system." The other person is the Sun. You are one of the planets orbiting them.
The order follows the actual distance from the Sun in our real-life solar system.
- Mercury: You are their #1 best friend. This means you two chat and snap more than anyone else in their entire contact list. It’s the inner circle.
- Venus: You are their #2 best friend.
- Earth: You are 3rd on their list. The Earth bitmoji usually comes with a little moon, which is a nice touch, honestly.
- Mars: This is the 4th spot.
- Jupiter: 5th place.
- Saturn: 6th place.
- Uranus: 7th place.
- Neptune: 8th place.
It's important to realize that this is a two-way street that often feels one-way. You might see yourself as their Mercury, but they might only be your Saturn. That’s where the drama usually starts.
The Social Psychology of Digital Proximity
Why does this even matter? Because humans are competitive.
Snapchat knows this. By gamifying friendship through snap planets in order, they’ve created a system where people feel a legitimate sting when they drop from "Earth" to "Mars." It’s subtle, but it's there. According to social media analysts like those at TechCrunch or The Verge, these features are designed specifically to increase "dwell time." You check the app not just to message, but to see if your status has shifted.
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Honestly, the "Friend Solar System" can be a bit of a headache. In 2024, Snapchat actually moved to make this feature less prominent by default because users reported it was causing anxiety. You now often have to tap into a specific menu to see it. It’s a "Friendship Profile" feature that requires a paid subscription, which adds another layer of weirdness. You are literally paying to see who likes you the most.
What Your Bitmoji Planet Says About You
Each planet has a specific visual look in the app.
Mercury is a pink planet with red hearts. It’s very "lovey-dovey," even if you’re just snapping your bros about fantasy football.
Venus is beige with yellow, pink, and blue hearts. It’s slightly more toned down.
Earth is exactly what you’d expect: green and blue with the moon.
Mars is red with hearts. People often confuse it with Mercury at a quick glance, but the shade of red is deeper, more "dusty."
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Jupiter is orange with stripes. No hearts here. Just the cold, gas-giant reality of being 5th on the list.
Saturn is orange with a ring.
Uranus is green.
Neptune is a lonely, dark blue.
If you find yourself as a Neptune in someone's system, it basically means you're barely hanging onto their "Best Friends" list. You’re in the top eight, sure, but you’re the Pluto of the group (and we know Pluto didn't even make the cut).
Technical Nuances of the Algorithm
The algorithm isn't just a simple counter. If you snap someone 100 times in one hour and then don't talk for a week, you'll drop. The snap planets in order system favors "recency and frequency."
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Snapchat’s support documentation is notoriously vague about the exact math. However, power users and developers who have reverse-engineered parts of the app's behavior suggest that the "weight" of a snap decreases over time. A snap sent five minutes ago is worth more than a snap sent five hours ago. Also, Group Snaps don't count toward your planet ranking. It has to be direct, one-on-one communication. Chatting (texting in the app) counts, but many believe it carries less weight than a photo or video snap.
Why Did My Rank Drop?
It might not be you. It might be them.
If your friend starts dating someone new, or picks up a new hobby, they might be snapping other people more. Your "score" with them hasn't necessarily gone down, but someone else's score went up. It’s a zero-sum game. There can only be one Mercury.
The Snapchat+ Controversy
Is it worth the money? Snapchat+ costs about $3.99 a month. For that, you get the "Friend Solar System" among other perks like custom app icons.
The controversy stems from the "Post-View Emoji" and the "Map Appearance" features. People have argued that seeing snap planets in order promotes "cyber-stalking" tendencies. If you see your boyfriend's Mercury is someone you don't know, that's a recipe for a Friday night argument. Experts in digital wellness often suggest that if you find yourself checking your planet status more than once a day, it might be time for a digital detox.
Actionable Insights for Managing Your Snap Status
If you actually care about moving up the planetary ladder, there are ways to do it without being annoying.
- Consistency over volume: Sending one snap every morning and evening is better than sending ten at once.
- Use the Camera: The algorithm is built on the camera. Texting is fine, but "Snaps" (photos/videos) seem to move the needle faster.
- Double Down on Interactions: If they snap you, snap back immediately. The "reply time" is rumored to be a factor in the "Best Friend" calculation.
- Check the Gold Border: If you see a gold border around a friend's "Friendship Profile," you are both in each other's top eight. That’s the "Solar System" sweet spot.
Understanding snap planets in order is really just about understanding how Snapchat wants you to use their app. They want you to stay engaged, stay competitive, and keep the streak alive. Whether you're a Mercury or a Neptune, remember that a bitmoji orbiting a cartoon sun isn't exactly a legal document defining your worth as a human being.
Next Steps for Users
- Check your subscription: Ensure Snapchat+ is active if you're trying to view your planet status on others' profiles; otherwise, you won't see the badge.
- Audit your list: Look at your own "Best Friends" (the ones you see when you go to send a snap). These are the people you are the "Sun" to.
- Toggle the feature: If the solar system is causing you stress, go into your Snapchat+ settings and turn off the "Friend Solar System" badge. It stays hidden, and you can focus on actually talking to your friends instead of ranking them.