Ever opened a friend's profile on Snap and seen a tiny gold badge that says "Best Friends" or just "Friends"? You tap it, and suddenly you’re looking at your Bitmoji sitting on a random planet like Mars or Neptune. It's kinda trippy.
Honestly, the Snapchat Friend Solar System is one of those features that either makes you feel like a total VIP or leaves you wondering why you’ve been relegated to the cold, dark edges of the galaxy.
Basically, if you have a Snapchat+ subscription, the app turns your top eight friends into a literal solar system. You are the Sun. Your friends are the planets. The closer they are to you, the more you guys talk. But since Snap made this an "opt-in" feature back in 2024 due to some controversy over social anxiety, you might have to actually turn it on to see the drama—I mean, the data.
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What Does Each Planet Mean on Snap?
It’s all about distance. If you're someone's Mercury, you're their ride-or-die. If you're their Neptune, well, you're still in the top eight, but maybe you only send the occasional "lmao" to their stories.
The order follows the actual scientific layout of our solar system. Here is the breakdown of what each planet represents in terms of your ranking:
- Mercury: This is the #1 spot. You are their absolute best friend on the app.
- Venus: You are their #2 closest friend.
- Earth: You’re holding down the #3 position.
- Mars: Fourth place. Still solid.
- Jupiter: You are #5 in their orbit.
- Saturn: Rank #6.
- Uranus: You’re at #7.
- Neptune: The #8 spot. You’re officially the last person in their inner circle.
It is worth noting that this ranking is based on interaction frequency. It’s not just about how many snaps you send today; it’s a mix of chats, snaps, and how often you engage with their content.
Mercury: The #1 Bestie
Mercury is the smallest planet and the one closest to the Sun. In the Snap world, it’s a pinkish-red planet surrounded by five red hearts. If you see yourself here, you’re the person they talk to the most. You’re likely sharing streaks that have lasted hundreds of days.
Venus: The Close Second
Venus looks like a light brownish-yellow planet. It’s decorated with pink, blue, and yellow hearts. Being Venus means you’re just a few snaps away from that top spot. It’s a high-tier friendship, usually reserved for someone you talk to daily.
Earth: The Reliable Third
Earth is probably the easiest to recognize because it looks like, well, Earth. It’s blue and green with a tiny Moon and red hearts. If you’re Earth, you’re a core part of their social life. You’re definitely in the "Bestie" category, even if you aren't the primary contact.
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Mars: The Red Planet
Mars is red and usually features purple and blue hearts. This is the #4 spot. It’s interesting because, at this point, the "closeness" starts to feel a bit more casual. You’re a great friend, but maybe you don't share every single life update with them.
The Outer Planets: Jupiter to Neptune
As you move further out, the hearts start to disappear. The vibe becomes a bit more "chilled out."
Jupiter is the fifth planet. It’s an orange planet with dark stripes and no hearts—just some sparkles or stars. If you’re Jupiter, you’re right in the middle. You’re a consistent friend, but you’re likely not their first thought when they have news to share.
Saturn is the sixth. You can't miss it because of the rings. It’s yellow-orange. Being someone’s Saturn is interesting; it means you’re definitely more than just a random contact, but you might only talk a few times a week.
Uranus is the seventh planet. It’s a plain green globe. No hearts, no rings. It’s a bit lonely out there. You’re in the top eight, which is cool, but the interaction level is relatively low compared to the inner circle.
Neptune is the final stop at #8. It’s a deep blue, icy-looking planet. If you see your Bitmoji on Neptune, you’ve barely made the cut. You are the eighth most interacted-with person on their list.
How the Ranking Actually Works (And Why It Shifts)
People often ask if the ranking is mutual. The short answer? No.
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You might have someone as your Mercury because you send them 50 snaps a day, but if they are a "power user" who sends 100 snaps a day to someone else, you might only be their Earth or Mars. It’s a bit of a reality check.
Snap uses an algorithm that looks at:
- Snap Frequency: How many pictures/videos you send.
- Chat Volume: How much you're actually typing to each other.
- Recent Activity: The system is dynamic. If you stop talking to someone for three days, you’ll likely see them drift further away from your "Sun."
Is the Solar System Feature Still Around?
Yes, but it's different now. In early 2024, Snapchat took a lot of heat because the feature was making people (especially teens) feel bad about their friendships. Seeing you’ve dropped from Mercury to Jupiter can be a bit of a gut punch.
Now, it is off by default. To see where you stand, you need a Snapchat+ subscription, and you have to manually enable the "Friend Solar System" in your settings.
How to turn it on
If you’ve got the subscription, go to your profile, tap on the Snapchat+ banner, and find the toggle for Solar System. Once it's on, you can tap the "Best Friends" badge on anyone’s profile to see your planetary position.
Why You Should Take It With a Grain of Salt
Honestly, these rankings can be super misleading. If you have a friend who only uses Snapchat to send you one specific type of meme, they might rank higher than a close friend you talk to on iMessage or in person.
The "Best Friend" algorithm doesn't know about your life outside the app. It only knows who you're clicking on. Some people even "game" the system by spamming each other with blank snaps just to keep their Mercury status. It's a bit silly when you think about it.
Your Next Steps to Master Snap Orbits
If you’re curious about your standing, here is exactly what to do:
- Check your Subscription: Ensure your Snapchat+ is active.
- Enable the Feature: Go to the Snapchat+ management page and toggle "Solar System" to ON.
- Inspect the Badge: Navigate to a friend's profile. If you see a gold-rimmed "Best Friends" badge, tap it.
- Identify the Planet: Match the color and features of the planet to the list above to see if you're #1 or #8.
- Improve your Rank: If you want to move closer to their "Sun," start sending more direct Snaps and engaging in more Chat threads.
The system updates every few days, so your position isn't permanent. Just keep snapping if you want to stay in orbit.