You’re scrolling through your chat list and see that little yellow heart next to someone's name. Or maybe it’s a red one. Suddenly, it’s gone. Panic? Maybe a little. Snapchat Best Friends aren't just a list of people you talk to; they’ve become a weirdly accurate social barometer for our digital lives.
Basically, the Best Friends on Snapchat feature is an automated list of the people you interact with most frequently on the app. It’s private. Nobody else can see your specific list, which is a massive change from the early days of the app when everyone could snoop on who you were snapping. Now, it’s just between you and the algorithm.
But how does it actually decide who makes the cut? It isn't just about the raw number of snaps sent. It’s deeper. It’s about "reciprocity."
How the Snapchat Best Friends Algorithm Really Works
Snapchat is notoriously tight-lipped about the exact math. However, we know from years of user patterns and official support documentation that the system tracks your interactions over a rolling period. Usually, it’s about a week. If you’re blasting snaps to a group of ten people, but only two of them are snapping you back consistently, those two are way more likely to land on your Best Friends list.
It’s a two-way street.
The algorithm assigns a "score" to your interactions with every individual contact. High-frequency snapping—especially the back-and-forth kind that happens within a short window—spikes that score. Text chatting counts too, though many users suspect (with good reason) that photos and videos carry more weight in the ranking system.
You can have up to eight Best Friends. This number has shifted over the years, but currently, eight is the magic limit. They sit right at the top of your Send To screen, making it incredibly easy to keep the streak going without searching for a name.
The Secret Language of Friend Emojis
If you've ever wondered why a smirking face or a pair of sunglasses appeared next to a name, you're looking at the visual representation of your Best Friend status. These aren't random. They are data points.
- The Yellow Heart: You are each other’s #1 Best Friend. You send the most snaps to them, and they send the most to you. Pure symmetry.
- The Red Heart: You’ve been #1 Best Friends for at least two weeks straight. It’s getting serious.
- The Pink Hearts: This is the gold standard. Two months of being each other’s top contact.
- The Grimace: This one is awkward. It means your #1 Best Friend is also their #1 Best Friend. You’re competing for the top spot with the same person.
- The Sunglasses: You share a "Close Friend." One of your Best Friends is also one of their Best Friends.
Honestly, the "Grimace" emoji probably causes more social drama than any other feature on the app. It’s a subtle nod from the AI saying, "Hey, you both talk to this person more than anyone else."
Why Your List Changes (and Why People Get Mad)
It happens all the time. You wake up, check your list, and your childhood bestie has been replaced by a random coworker you’ve been coordinate-snapping for a project.
Snapchat’s algorithm is incredibly "fluid." It doesn't care about your history or your feelings; it cares about the last seven days of data. If you stop snapping someone for three days, their "score" drops. If someone else starts spamming you with memes and you respond, they’ll leapfrog right over your old friends.
This creates a "use it or lose it" dynamic. It’s why streaks are so addictive. They aren't just a number; they are the fuel that keeps you on someone’s Best Friends list. According to data insights from various tech analysts, this gamification is exactly why Snapchat maintains such high retention among Gen Z users compared to more static platforms like X or even Instagram.
Can You Edit the List Manually?
Short answer: No.
Long answer: Sorta, but it’s annoying.
You cannot go into settings and click a button to add or remove someone from your Best Friends. Snapchat wants the list to be an "authentic" reflection of your behavior. If you want someone off the list, you have to stop interacting with them. Stop opening their snaps immediately. Stop sending them stuff. Eventually, the algorithm will demote them.
Alternatively, you can block and then immediately unblock someone. This "hard resets" your interaction history with them, purging them from the Best Friends list instantly. It’s a bit of a nuclear option, but it works if you’re trying to hide a certain contact from a nosy partner or just want a clean slate.
The Privacy Factor: Who Can See What?
Back in 2015, Snapchat made a massive pivot. They removed the ability for users to see other people's Best Friends. It was a chaotic era. People were getting caught cheating, friends were getting jealous—it was a mess.
Today, your list is your business.
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However, "Snapchat Plus" (the subscription service) added a feature called "Best Friends Pinning." For a few bucks a month, you can pin one person to the very top of your list as your #1 Best Friend, regardless of what the algorithm thinks. Even then, the other person doesn't necessarily know they are pinned, though they might guess if you’re always the first to view their stories.
There is also the "Solar System" feature for Plus subscribers. This lets you see where you stand in someone else's list. If you’re the "Mars" to their "Sun," you’re their fourth closest friend. It’s a bit scientific and, frankly, a little obsessive, but it’s a huge hit for power users who need to know exactly where they rank in the social hierarchy.
Technical Nuances of the Ranking System
Let's talk about the "Score." Your overall Snapchat score (the number next to your username) goes up every time you send or receive a snap. The Best Friend algorithm uses a subset of this data.
Interestingly, group chats don't influence Best Friends as much as one-on-one snaps do. If you’re in a group of 20 people and everyone is talking, that data is "diluted." The algorithm prioritizes the intimacy of the direct message. It’s looking for those 1-to-1 connections.
Also, the "replays" feature? Huge. If someone replays your snap, the algorithm sees that as a high-value interaction. It’s a signal that the content was engaging, which boosts that person’s standing on your list.
Why This Matters for Your Digital Health
It’s easy to dismiss this as "just an app," but for many, these lists represent real-world belonging. Psychologists often point to these visual cues—like the hearts and the streaks—as "variable rewards." They trigger dopamine. When that yellow heart turns red, it’s a tiny hit of validation.
But it’s also a source of anxiety. "Why am I not on their Best Friends list?" is a common query in relationship forums. The reality is often boring: they might just be more active with a work group or a different circle that week. The algorithm is a math equation, not a loyalty test.
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Actionable Steps to Manage Your Snapchat Circle
If you want to actually take control of how your Best Friends list looks without letting the AI do all the work, there are a few tactical moves you can make.
- The "Slow Fade": If you want someone to drop off the list without the drama of blocking them, stop sending them snaps first. Only reply to theirs. The algorithm weights your outgoing snaps heavily. By cutting the outgoing flow, their score will naturally tank over 5–7 days.
- The "Interaction Boost": Want a specific person at the top? Start sending them mundane, daily snaps. Good morning, a photo of your coffee, whatever. High frequency over a short period (3–4 days) will almost always force the algorithm to move them into the top eight.
- Use Pinned Chats: On iOS and Android, you can "Pin" a conversation to the top of your chat screen. This is different from the Best Friends list. Pinning ensures they are always at the top, even if you haven't talked in a month. This is the best way to bypass the algorithm's "helpfulness" entirely.
- Check Your Privacy Settings: Periodically review who can see your location on the Snap Map and who can contact you. While these don't directly change your Best Friends list, they change who can interact with you, which eventually dictates who ends up on that list.
Snapchat is constantly tweaking things. One day the hearts might be gone, replaced by something else. But for now, the Best Friends list remains the core of how the app organizes your social life. It’s a reflection of who you’re actually talking to, stripped of the "likes" and "comments" of other platforms. It’s just you, them, and a whole lot of data points.