You’re staring at a tiny, pixelated image of Mars on your friend’s profile and wondering if you’ve been demoted. It’s a weird feeling. One day you’re Earth, the next you’re orbiting somewhere near Jupiter, and suddenly the "best friend" vibes feel a little lopsided.
Basically, the bsf list snapchat planets system is Snapchat’s way of gamifying your social life. If you pay for Snapchat+, you get to see exactly where you stand in your friends' inner circles—and where they stand in yours. But it's not always obvious what a "brassy orange planet" or a "blue ball with no hearts" actually means for your friendship.
What is the Snapchat Solar System?
Think of it as a digital hierarchy. In this little universe, you are the Sun. Your top eight friends—the people you snap and chat with the most—are the planets orbiting you.
The closer the planet is to the Sun, the more often you guys are interacting. It’s a one-way mirror, though. Just because someone is your Mercury (your #1) doesn't mean you are theirs. That's usually where the drama starts. Honestly, the whole thing was so controversial that Snapchat actually turned it off by default in 2024 because it was giving people "friendship anxiety." In 2026, it's still a "proactive" feature, meaning you have to go into your Snapchat+ settings and manually toggle it on if you want to see the celestial madness.
The BSF List: Snapchat Planets in Order
If you’re trying to decode the list, you need to know the order of the real solar system. Snapchat follows it exactly. Here is the breakdown of what each planet represents on that "Best Friends" badge.
1. Mercury (The #1 Bestie)
This is the "ride or die" slot. If you see Mercury, it means you are this person's absolute top contact.
- What it looks like: A red planet with red hearts floating around it.
- The Vibe: You guys probably have a massive streak and talk every single day.
2. Venus (The #2 Bestie)
You're close, but there's someone else they talk to just a tiny bit more.
- What it looks like: A light brown or yellowish planet with pink, blue, and yellow hearts.
- The Vibe: Very frequent interaction, but maybe you don't send that "good morning" snap quite as fast as their Mercury does.
3. Earth (The #3 Bestie)
The third spot is still very prestigious.
- What it looks like: Exactly like our home—green continents, blue oceans, and a little moon. It usually has red hearts and stars around it too.
- The Vibe: A solid, reliable friend you talk to several times a week.
4. Mars (The #4 Bestie)
- What it looks like: A red planet (darker than Mercury) with purple and blue hearts.
- The Vibe: You're in the inner circle, but you're starting to hit the "casual" territory of the top eight.
5. Jupiter (The #5 Bestie)
- What it looks like: Large, orange, and striped. No hearts here.
- The Vibe: You're a regular, but the interaction is likely more sporadic.
6. Saturn (The #6 Bestie)
- What it looks like: Yellow-orange with those famous rings.
- The Vibe: You’re definitely a friend, but maybe you only snap when something interesting happens.
7. Uranus (The #7 Bestie)
- What it looks like: A green, swirly planet.
- The Vibe: You’re hanging on to the list by a thread.
8. Neptune (The #8 Bestie)
- What it looks like: A deep, cold blue planet.
- The Vibe: You are the eighth person on their list. If they start talking to someone new today, you’re probably drifting out into deep space.
"Best Friends" vs. "Friends" Badges
This is a nuance people miss constantly. When you look at a profile, you’ll see a gold-ringed badge. It either says Best Friends or just Friends.
If it says Best Friends, it’s mutual. You are in their top eight, and they are in yours. You're both orbiting each other.
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If it says Friends, it’s a bit more awkward. It means you are in their top eight (you are one of their planets), but they are not in yours. Maybe they snap you constantly and you just... don't reply as much.
How the Algorithm Actually Ranks You
Snapchat is pretty secretive about the math, but we know it’s not just about streaks. A 500-day streak is cool, but if you only send one snap a day to keep it alive, you might still be a "Neptune."
The system looks at:
- Snap frequency: How many photos/videos you send back and forth.
- Chat volume: Actual text conversations count.
- Recency: If you haven't talked in three days, your "orbit" will definitely shift.
- Group interactions: These seem to have a smaller impact than 1-on-1 direct snaps.
Does the BSF List Really Matter?
Kinda? Social media researchers like those at the Pew Research Center have often noted that visual "rankings" in apps can lead to social competition. It’s why Snapchat made the feature optional.
If you find yourself checking your "position" in a friend's solar system every hour, it might be time to take a break. Friendships aren't always symmetrical. Someone might be your Mercury because you don't use the app much and only talk to them, while you might be their Jupiter because they are a social butterfly with 50 active chats. It doesn't mean they like you less; it just means the data is different.
Troubleshooting the Planet Feature
If you can't see the planets, check these three things:
- Subscription: You must have an active Snapchat+ sub.
- Toggle: Go to your Profile > Snapchat+ > Solar System and make sure it's "On."
- Mutual Privacy: If your friend has turned their solar system visibility off, you won't be able to see your position on their profile, even if you are a subscriber.
Actionable Next Steps
To get the most out of the feature without the stress, try this:
- Audit your list: Take a look at your own planets. If your "Mercury" is someone you haven't actually hung out with in a year, maybe use it as a prompt to reach out to the "Earths" or "Mars" friends you actually see in person.
- Check your badge: See if you have any "Friends" badges (the non-mutual ones). It’s a great way to see who is putting in more effort than you are.
- Manage the anxiety: If seeing yourself drop to Neptune feels bad, just toggle the feature off in settings. You can still enjoy other Snapchat+ perks like custom app icons or ghost trails without the planetary drama.