Understanding Snapchat Planets Order & Meaning

Snapchat has always been a playground of playful interactions—from dancing Bitmojis to iconic streak flames—but its latest feature, Snapchat Planets (also known as the Friend‑Solar System), takes friendship dynamics to an entirely new level. If you're a Snapchat+ subscriber, you may have noticed planets orbiting around your profile—ever wondered what they mean? In this extensive guide, we’ll unpack everything: what Snapchat Planets are, how they function, what each planet represents, and why they exist in the first place.

What Are Snapchat Planets?

As outlined by Snapchat Support, the Friend‑Solar System feature places you at the center—your Bitmoji is the "Sun"—and your eight closest Snapchat friends orbit you like planets .

In total, there are eight possible planets, echoing our actual solar system,

Who Can See Your Solar System?

Snapchat Planets are exclusive to Snapchat+ subscribers (Snapchat’s premium tier). Both you and your friend must have Snapchat+ and enable the Friend‑Solar System feature to both see and interact with each other’s planets.

This feature is off by default and must be enabled manually—Snapchat reversed its initial default-on setting after concerns about the emotional impact on users, particularly teens

Why Introduce Snapchat Planets?

Snapchat’s goal isn’t just visual flair; it's about gamifying friendship dynamics. The planets serve as a playful, visual reflection of who you talk to most—based on number of snaps, chats, streaks, and overall engagement.

It’s like seeing your social circle in 3D space. But Snapchat realized such rankings also added pressure—especially for younger users—so they made this feature optional and off by default.

Planet by Planet: What Each Means

Here’s a detailed breakdown of what each planet represents in your average Snapchat+ Solar System, with emoji hints and friend relationship insights.

1. Mercury – Your #1 Friend

Representation: Closest planet, five red hearts

Meaning: This friend is your most-engaged Snapchat contact—talking daily, emojis flying, streaks maintained. Often a best friend in real life, Mercury shines bright.

2. Venus – #2 Friend

Representation: Brownish planet with pink, yellow, and blue hearts

Meaning: A strong connection—maybe someone you chat with multiple times per week. The multi-colored hearts highlight a warm, diverse interaction.

3. Earth – #3 Friend

Representation: Earth-like globe, red hearts, small moon

Meaning: Reliable and consistent. You're close enough to be among the top three—someone you can count on to respond and connect regularly.

4. Mars – #4 Friend

Representation: Vibrant red planet, blue/purple hearts, stars

Meaning: Active and energetic, like Mars. You share laughs or random snaps frequently, but not enough to crack the top three yet.

5. Jupiter – #5 Friend

Representation: Large striped planet with stars

Meaning: Someone you engage with occasionally—maybe in group stories, shared streaks, or chat threads. Solid but not daily.

6. Saturn – #6 Friend

Representation: Orange with rings, fewer stars/no hearts

Meaning: More casual or occasional interaction—like someone you follow and message but don’t interact with daily.

7. Uranus – #7 Friend

Representation: Greenish-blue, layered, no hearts

Meaning: A light interaction—perhaps you added them recently or follow their snaps occasionally. Still in your top eight but drifting further out.

8. Neptune – #8 Friend

Representation: Deep blue, minimal stars, no hearts

Meaning: Your #8 friend—part of the core circle but with minimal interaction. Useful to see if someone is pulling away or if you're reconnecting.

Android Authority confirms: “Each of your eight closest friends will be assigned a planet … representing how close you are to them”.

How to Enable & View Your Solar System

1. Subscribe to Snapchat+
2. Go to your Profile → Snapchat+ section
3. Toggle on the Friend‑Solar System
4. To view your planet ranking:

• Visit a friend’s profile
• Tap on the Best Friends or Friends badge
• View your planet position in their universe

This badge appears only if mutual best friends status exists or you are on each other’s top eight lists.

What Drives Your Planet Ranking?

Snapchat uses an algorithm that tracks engagement—Snaps sent, chats, Story replies, streak lengths, etc. Interactions over time shape planet rankings dynamically. Higher engagement = closer planet to the Sun (you).

That means your planet position can shift daily. If you suddenly message someone more or less often, their planet might move accordingly.

Why Snapchat Made This Optional

Teen users reported feeling ranked and insecure—especially when they saw their own planet was at the bottom.

Parents, lawmakers, and mental health experts raised concerns. In response, Snapchat made the feature opt-in only, protecting users from involuntary social comparison.

Tips for Managing Your Planets

Enable/Disable at will: You can toggle the Friend‑Solar System feature on/off anytime via Snapchat+ settings.

Don’t over-analyze: It’s a fun way to visualize engagement—not a measure of real friendship.

Want higher ranking? Be active: Send Snaps, reply to Stories, keep streaks going—but only if it’s authentic.

Avoid jealousy: Planet positions shift dynamically. It’s not personal—it’s algorithmic.

FAQs About Snapchat Planets

Do my friends see my planets?

Only if they’re Snapchat+ users and have enabled Friend Solar System—they see your planet in their universe.

Can I assign my planet manually?

No, Snapchat controls rankings algorithmically—unilateral control ensures objective ranking.

How often do rankings update?

Likely daily. It depends on your Snapchat activity patterns.

What if I’m at Neptune?

It just means you're eighth in ranking—not a reflection of real-life friendship quality.

Does Snapchat notify about rank changes?

No. There are no active alerts—changes are visible only in Solar System view.

What if I feel jealous?

You can disable the feature or remind yourself it's mechanical and not personal.

Final Thoughts

Snapchat Planets bring a whimsical visual spin to understanding your engagement levels with friends. At its core, it gamifies your close connections—showing who you interact with most often, in a cosmic format.

That said, the feature’s optional deployment and user control reflect Snapchat’s awareness of emotional sensitivity around digital ranking. With parents and experts voicing caution, Snapchat limited this feature to Snapchat+ users, disabled by default—acknowledging both the fun and the responsibility inherent in such social gamification.