Snapchat Planets (Friend Solar System): What It Is & Why It Matters
Snapchat Planets—also called the Friend Solar System—visually represents your friendship closeness on Snapchat+. Think of it as ranking your top eight friends and assigning them planets in a solar system: the closer the planet, the more you interact. Snapchat introduced this as a premium Snapchat+ feature to deepen engagement and provide insight into your digital friendships.
How Snapchat Planets Work: The Mechanics
Snapchat Planets require a Snapchat+ subscription. As of 2024, the feature is opt-in, meaning it’s off by default—you must enable it in settings. Snapchat calculates your closeness using snaps exchanged, chat frequency, story views, and other interactions. The top eight friends are then ranked as planets around your Bitmoji Sun. Visibility depends on both parties: if either hasn’t opted in or doesn’t have Snapchat+, the planets won’t display.
The Planet Order & Meanings
| Rank | Planet | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mercury | Your closest friend, most interactions. |
| 2 | Venus | Second-closest friend, frequent contact. |
| 3 | Earth | Steady friendship, recognizable by blue/green Earth tones. |
| 4 | Mars | Fourth-closest, still among best connections. |
| 5 | Jupiter | Middle rank, good interaction but less frequent. |
| 6 | Saturn | Slightly fewer interactions, distinctive rings. |
| 7 | Uranus | Low frequency, occasional snaps or chats. |
| 8 | Neptune | Least interaction among top eight friends. |
How to Turn On & View Snapchat Planets
- Subscribe to Snapchat+ through your app store.
- Update Snapchat to the latest version.
- Open your profile, tap your Bitmoji, go to Settings → Snapchat+ features.
- Toggle on “Friend Solar System.”
- To see your planet in someone’s system: open their profile, tap the Best Friends badge (gold ring), and your planet appears if conditions are met.
If planets don’t appear, you may not be in their top eight, one of you hasn’t enabled the feature, or there’s a cache/app glitch.
Snapchat’s Changes & Why They Did It
Due to concerns about social pressure and comparison anxiety, Snapchat turned the feature off by default for new Snapchat+ users. Media outlets highlighted that ranking features can trigger feelings of exclusion, so Snapchat adjusted visibility and required mutual opt-in to protect privacy and mental well-being.
Pros & Cons of Snapchat Planets
Pros
- Fun, visual way to view friendship rankings.
- Encourages interaction and engagement with friends.
- Enhances the value of Snapchat+ subscription.
- Offers transparency about interaction frequency.
Cons
- Potential for social pressure or anxiety when not a close friend.
- Comparison culture can affect real-life relationships.
- Ranking only reflects in-app interactions, not overall closeness.
- Requires a paid subscription.
- Occasional glitches or delayed updates reported by users.
Common Misconceptions & FAQs
- 1. If I’m Mercury, am I definitely their best friend?
- No. It only reflects Snapchat’s interaction metric, not real-life relationships.
- 2. Do all my friends see the same planet for me?
- No. Each friend has their own solar system rankings.
- 3. Is the planet rank updated instantly?
- It updates over time, not in real time—there may be lag.
- 4. Is my planet ranking visible to everyone?
- No. Only you can view your planet in another’s solar system when conditions are met.
- 5. Can I use Snapchat Planets without Snapchat+?
- No. It’s a Snapchat+ exclusive feature.
Tips to Improve Your Planet Rank
- Snap and chat consistently with your friend.
- View and respond to their stories frequently.
- Engage meaningfully rather than spamming snaps.
- Be patient—ranking changes may take time.
- Don’t stress—offline friendships matter more.
Privacy, Mental Health & Ethical Considerations
Ranking systems can influence self-esteem, especially among younger users. Snapchat’s choice to make the feature opt-in helps mitigate pressure. Remember: a planet rank is only a small part of your friendship—it doesn’t define your value or relationships.
Why Snapchat Created the Planets Feature
The feature gamifies social interaction, boosting engagement, differentiating Snapchat+ from competitors, and responding to user demand for transparency in digital friendships. It also aligns with Snapchat’s playful, AR-driven brand identity.
SEO Tips Around This Topic
- Target keywords: “Snapchat Planets meaning,” “Snapchat Solar System order,” “Snapchat+ planets explained.”
- Include related topics like Snap streaks, Best Friends emojis, and Snapchat+ features.
- Answer user intent: “Why can’t I see my planet?” or “How to enable Snapchat Planets.”
Criticisms & Potential Improvements
Critics highlight emotional impact, algorithm opacity, and bugs. Potential improvements include giving users more visibility control, offering a reset/history option, or adding a limited free version for non-subscribers.
Current Status (2025)
As of mid-2025, Snapchat Planets remains off by default for new Snapchat+ users. Snapchat continues refining visibility rules and addressing glitches. User feedback continues to shape its evolution.
Final Thoughts: Is Snapchat Planets for You?
Snapchat Planets is a creative, engaging way to visualize your closest connections on the platform. If you enjoy playful features and don’t mind rankings, you may love it. If comparisons cause stress, consider leaving it disabled. Ultimately, friendships extend beyond any app’s metrics.