In the ever-evolving world of social media, Snapchat has always stood out for its creative and interactive features. Among its newest additions, the Snapchat Planet or “Friend Solar System” feature is one of the most fascinating and engaging experiences for Snapchat+ subscribers. With the aim to gamify friendships and visualize closeness among users, Snapchat has introduced a planet-themed metaphor to represent your best friends in a solar system format. But what exactly is Snapchat Planet? How does it work? And what does it mean for your social connections on the app?
What is Snapchat Planet?
Snapchat Planet, also called the Friend Solar System, is a feature available exclusively to Snapchat+ users. It visualizes your top friends as planets orbiting around you, who are represented as the “Sun” in this playful metaphor. Essentially, it turns your best friend list into a planetary system, offering a unique way to see who you’re closest to on the app.
The closer someone is to you in your Snapchat Planet system, the more frequently you interact with them. The person you snap with the most appears as Mercury, the closest planet to the Sun. The rest of your top eight friends are represented as planets in increasing distance from you—Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
How Does Snapchat Planet Work?
The Snapchat Planet system is based on interaction frequency, including:
- Snaps sent and received
- Chats
- Video calls
- Stories viewed
- Reactions
Snapchat compiles this data and ranks your top 8 friends. These friends are then assigned planets in the Friend Solar System. Here’s how each friend ranks in planetary order:
- Mercury Best Friend
- Venus Best Friend
- Earth Best Friend
- Mars Best Friend
- Jupiter Best Friend
- Saturn Best Friend
- Uranus Best Friend
- Neptune Best Friend
You, the user, are the Sun in this cosmic representation. You won’t appear in someone else’s solar system unless you’re one of their top eight friends.
Snapchat Planet Emojis Explained
Each planet in the Snapchat Friend Solar System is represented by a specific emoji with unique visual characteristics. Here’s a simplified breakdown of what each planet emoji means:
- Mercury – Closest friend, frequent interaction.
- Saturn – Mid-level interaction.
- Earth – Engaged but not top-tier.
- Neptune – You interact occasionally.
- Mars – Somewhere in the middle.
These planet emojis help users visually understand their social standing with another person. Keep in mind, this only appears if both users are Snapchat+ members and have interacted consistently.
Snapchat+ and Planet Access
The Snapchat Planet feature is exclusive to Snapchat+, which is the premium subscription version of the app. Snapchat+ was launched to offer advanced features for power users and creators. For a monthly fee (typically around $3.99/month), users gain access to:
- Custom app icons
- Story rewatch indicators
- Best friend pinning
- Ghost trails
- Snapchat Planet/Friend Solar System
Only Snapchat+ subscribers can see and use the Planet feature, making it a fun premium perk that adds a new dimension to friendship tracking.
Why Did Snapchat Introduce the Planet Feature?
Snapchat has always prioritized social interaction over follower counts. Features like streaks and Bitmojis foster connection and engagement. The Snapchat Planet system builds on this concept by offering a gamified and aesthetic way to visualize your closest relationships.
Some reasons for this feature’s introduction include:
- Boosting Snapchat+ subscriptions with a fun, exclusive offering.
- Encouraging daily engagement to stay close to the “Sun.”
- Providing visual feedback on social interaction levels.
- Gamifying friendships in a unique, space-themed layout.
How to See Your Snapchat Planet?
If you’re a Snapchat+ subscriber and want to view your Planet Solar System:
- Open Snapchat.
- Tap on your Bitmoji (top-left corner).
- Scroll down to your Best Friends list.
- Tap on a Best Friend badge (if eligible).
- You’ll see a solar system animation and your friend’s planet.
Only users in your top 8 list and also subscribed to Snapchat+ will display their planet icon to you.
Privacy Considerations
Snapchat Planet is designed to be private. Only you can see your solar system, and only the people you interact with most show up. You won’t be notified when your planet status changes, and neither will your friends. There’s also no public ranking, so you won’t know what planet you are in someone else’s system unless you have access to their Snapchat+ view.
Snapchat keeps this feature discreet to avoid jealousy or competitiveness among users.
How to Move Up in Someone’s Snapchat Planet?
Want to go from Uranus to Mercury in someone’s Snapchat Planet? Here are a few tips:
- Send daily snaps to build streaks.
- Chat regularly and respond to their messages.
- Watch their stories and react.
- Make video or voice calls through Snapchat.
- Avoid ghosting or silence for extended periods.
With consistent interaction, Snapchat will naturally adjust your ranking based on your engagement.
Criticism of Snapchat Planet
While many users enjoy the visual novelty, some concerns have been raised about Snapchat Planet, such as:
- Pressure to maintain position among friends.
- Feelings of exclusion for those not in the top eight.
- Obsession with rankings, similar to streak addiction.
- Privacy concerns for some users.
Snapchat has tried to balance this by making the feature exclusive and private, avoiding public rankings or notifications.
Future of Snapchat Planet and Friend Metrics
Snapchat is likely to build on the success of the Planet system by:
- Adding custom solar system designs.
- Offering planet animations based on interaction type (e.g., spinning for chats, glowing for video calls).
- Introducing limited-time themes like Galaxy Week or Alien Planets.
- Launching friendship challenges to “level up” and earn planetary badges.
In the world of social apps, innovation like Snapchat Planet may become the new norm for tracking friendship dynamics.
Conclusion
The Snapchat Planet feature is a creative and engaging way to visualize digital friendships, bringing a touch of gamified space adventure to your daily interactions. Available exclusively to Snapchat+ users, it offers a novel way to measure and reflect your closeness with your friends based on how often you interact. While it’s a fun and visually appealing feature wifi delta, it also emphasizes the core of what Snapchat is about building and maintaining personal connections. As social media platforms continue to evolve, features like Snapchat Planet set the trend for a more immersive and personalized user experience. Whether you’re Mercury or Neptune in someone’s solar system, one thing is certain: Snapchat is helping users explore the galaxy of friendship—one snap at a time.
FAQs About Snapchat Planet
Q1: Can I see my planet in someone else’s Snapchat Solar System?
No, unless you have access to their account and they are also subscribed to Snapchat+, you won’t see your own planet in their solar system.
Q2: Why is my friend no longer a planet in my solar system?
This likely means they dropped out of your top 8 friends based on reduced interaction.
Q3: Can non-Snapchat+ users use the Snapchat Planet feature?
No, this feature is only available to Snapchat+ subscribers.
Q4: Is Snapchat Planet visible to other people?
No, your Friend Solar System is private and only visible to you.
Q5: Can I customize which friend appears on which planet?
No, Snapchat assigns the planets automatically based on interaction levels.