Snapchat. It’s the app that refused to die even after Instagram cloned its every move. But if you’ve been on the platform lately, you’ve probably seen people obsessing over where they land on someone's Friend Solar System. It's kinda weird, right? You’re suddenly a celestial body orbiting a "Best Friend." This whole bsf list snap planets system is basically Snapchat's way of gamifying your social hierarchy, and honestly, it’s caused more drama in high school hallways and group chats than almost any other update in recent memory.
If you're a Snapchat+ subscriber, you get this feature. If you aren't, you're likely just confused why your friend is mad that they're "only Uranus" on your profile.
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How the BSF List and Planet Order Actually Works
Let’s get the technical stuff out of the way first. Your "BSF" (Best Friends) list is determined by how much you interact with people. If you’re sending snaps back and forth constantly, that person climbs the ranks. The "Solar System" takes that list and assigns a planet to the top eight people you talk to the most.
But here is the catch: it’s relative.
You might see yourself as Mercury (the closest planet) on your best friend’s profile. That means you are their #1 most messaged person. However, they might only be Jupiter on your profile because you happen to talk to four other people even more than you talk to them. This discrepancy is exactly where the "Snapchat anxiety" kicks in. People start checking their rank like it’s a credit score.
The order follows the actual layout of our solar system. If you skipped third-grade science, here’s the refresher:
- Mercury: You’re their absolute #1.
- Venus: You’re the #2 closest friend.
- Earth: You’re holding down the #3 spot.
- Mars: Coming in at #4.
- Jupiter: You’re #5.
- Saturn: The #6 spot.
- Uranus: You’re #7.
- Neptune: You’ve just barely cracked the top eight.
It's a simple 1-to-8 scale. No Pluto. Sorry, Pluto fans, Snapchat decided to stick with the IAU definitions from 2006.
The Social Psychology of Being "Mars"
Why does this even matter? Because humans are obsessed with status. When Snapchat introduced the Friend Solar System, they didn't just add a UI element; they added a way to quantify "closeness."
I’ve seen Reddit threads where people are genuinely spiraling because they dropped from Venus to Mars on a crush's profile. It feels personal. It’s like the app is telling you, "Hey, you're less important than you were yesterday."
But the algorithm is a bit of a black box. It doesn't just count the number of snaps. It looks at the frequency of interactions and the reciprocity of those snaps. If you send 50 snaps but they only reply to two, you probably won't be their Mercury. It’s about the "streak" energy and the two-way street of communication.
Actually, Snapchat had to make a change recently. Because of the "mental health concerns" regarding people feeling excluded or ranked, they actually made the Solar System an "opt-in" feature for subscribers. It’s no longer just there by default in the same way it used to be. You have to actively want to see your social standing to engage with it now.
Why Your BSF List Might Look "Wrong"
Ever looked at your list and thought, "Wait, I barely talk to that person"?
It happens. The bsf list snap planets algorithm can be a bit sticky. If you had a massive weekend of snapping someone during a trip or an event, they might jump into your top eight and stay there for a week or two, even if your daily communication drops off. The "weighted average" of your interactions takes time to decay.
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Also, Group Snaps don't count the same way. Direct, one-on-one Snaps are the "gold standard" for the algorithm. If you're mostly talking in a group chat of ten people, those interactions are diluted. If you want to move up the ranks, you have to go 1-on-1.
The Subscription Factor
It’s worth noting that the Solar System is a "Snapchat+" exclusive. This is the $3.99/month tier. By putting these rankings behind a paywall, Snapchat turned social status into a revenue stream. It’s brilliant from a business perspective, but kinda gross if you think about it too hard. You're paying for the privilege of seeing exactly who your friends are talking to more than you.
How to Manage the "Planet Pressure"
If you find yourself checking the bsf list snap planets every hour, you've gotta take a step back. Seriously. It’s an algorithm designed to keep you clicking, not a definitive verdict on your worth as a friend.
- Disable the Feature: If you have Snapchat+, you can actually turn the Friend Solar System off in your settings. If it's causing you stress, just kill it.
- Focus on the Content, Not the Rank: A "Mercury" friend who only sends "S" (streaks) isn't as close as a "Saturn" friend you actually have deep conversations with.
- Don't Overthink the Drops: If you drop a rank, it might not be that you’re "less liked." It might just mean your friend started a new job or got into a new hobby group where they’re sending more functional snaps to someone else.
Actionable Steps for Snapchat Users
If you’re trying to navigate this without losing your mind, here’s how to handle it effectively.
First, check your settings. Navigate to your Profile, tap the Snapchat+ badge, and see if "Friend Solar System" is toggled on or off. If you want to see where you stand with someone, tap the "Best Friends" or "Friends" badge on their Friendship Profile. You’ll see a "Best Friends" or "Friends" ring with a gold border. Tapping that reveals your planet.
Second, realize that your friends can't see your full list. They can only see their own position in your solar system if they also have a subscription. You aren't broadcasting your entire social hierarchy to the world—just to the specific people on that list who are willing to pay four bucks a month.
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Lastly, keep your app updated. Snapchat tweaks these algorithmic features constantly. What ranks you as "Venus" today might change tomorrow if they decide to weigh "Chatting" more heavily than "Snapping."
The reality is that friendship is way too complex for an eight-planet model to capture. Use it for fun, but don't let a digital version of Mars dictate how you feel about your real-world connections.