Snapchat introduced Friend Solar System famously known for Snapchat Planets in 2022 for Snapchat+ subscribers. This shows how close you’re to your friend.
Snapchat secretly revealing your position in the friend’s best friends list. Isn’t it the most interesting feature in snapchat plus. Let’s deep dive!
How Snapchat+ Solar System Work?
You only can see planet in your friends profile, if you are in their close friends list. When you check a friend’s profile, you might see a Best Friends badge with a gold ring. If you tap on it, it reveals your planet.
Snapchat shows 8 different color planets with each planet have different rank and meaning. Simply the color of planets describes your position from 1 to 8.
For example, if you see Earth, that means you are their #3 best friend as Earth is on third number in the solar system.
Important Note:
when snapchat started showing you on the planet and your friend as the sun, some of you got confused in if this shows my position in their best friends list or their position in my bsf list. The simple answer is, it shows your rank in your friend’s top 8 friends list not the other way around.
Friend Solar System Privacy Explained
After months of user confusion about planet meanings and visibility, Snapchat’s Newsroom released an official explainer on 05 April 2024. Here are the key points:
- Only for You: It shows your position in a friend’s Solar System, but no one else’s, you won’t see other friends’ planets.
- Not a Public Ranking: Your planet isn’t visible to anyone else (not even that friend). It’s just a fun way to see how close you are to them.
- Why Snapchat Added It: Because online friendships lack the natural cues we get in person (like inside jokes or hangouts), the Solar System gives extra context about your bonds.
Fun Fact: Less than 0.25% of Snapchatters use this daily, so if you see a planet, you’re part of lucky group.
Snapchat Planets Order (See your Position)
Planet
Rank
Meaning
Mercury
#1
Your closest best friend, highest interaction.
Venus
#2
Yellow planet, Strong bond, frequent snaps.
Earth
#3
Planet with moon, Steady and balanced friendship.
Mars
#4
Red planet, Energetic connection.
Jupiter
#5
Orange planet, Adventurous friendship.
Saturn
#6
Yellow ring planet, Want to chat more.
Uranus
#7
Green planet, Unique bond.
Neptune
#8
Blue planet, Mysterious friendship.
Meaning Of Different Color Snap Planets
Each color represents a planet in the Solar System and how close you’re to a friend.
- Mercury
Red color planet with red hearts around the ring shows 1st closest best friend in the snapchat.
- Venus
Yellow color planet with colorful hearts around the ring means 2nd closest best friend in the snapchat.
- Earth
Earth like planet with a grey moon and red hearts on the ring in the snapchat solar system shows 3rd closest best friend.
- Mars
Red color planet with hearts and small stars around the ring shows 4th closest friend in the list.
- Jupiter
Orange planet with stars on the ring means 5th closest friend. At this rank onward, hearts from the rings are removed and only stars are showing.
- Saturn
Yellow planet that has rings around it represents you’re their 6th best friend.
- Uranus
Green color planet on your friend profile means 7th closest friend. It represents the Uranus in snapchat solar system.
- Neptune
Blue color planet is the last in best friends list and it shows 8th close friend.
Mercury: Your #1 Bestie
Mercury means you and your friend are the closest on Snapchat! 💯 Like the planet closest to the Sun, this bond is warm, intense, and full of daily snaps. Just like Mercury has the shortest orbit around the Sun, this friend is always circling back to you with fast replies, nonstop snaps, and zero distance. 💬❤️
Venus: Your #2 Bestie
Venus means you and this friend share a smooth, easygoing bond. 💫 As the second planet from the Sun, it shows warmth, and good vibes. Just like Venus shines the brightest in the night sky, this friend always brings a little extra glow to your Snapchat. 💛
Earth: Your #3 Bestie
Earth means this friend is a rock, always there when it counts. 🌎 Your connection isn’t about constant snaps, but when you do interact, it’s real. Just like Earth is home, this friend feels familiar and comforting.💙
Mars: Your #4 Bestie
Mars means this friendship is full of energy and endless convos. 🔥 This friend always brings the good vibes and passion. Like Mars, the fiery red planet, your connection is adventurous, and always ready to do something exciting!
Jupiter: Your #5 Friend
Jupiter means this friendship is big and full of possibilities! This bond is all about fun, growth, and endless good vibes. Like Jupiter is the giant of the solar system, this friend brings epic convos and a sense of limitless fun to your Snapchat orbit. ✨
Saturn: Your #6 Friend
Saturn means this friend is steady, dependable, and always in your corner. Your bond may not be flashy, but it’s built to last and mutual respect. Like Saturn’s iconic rings, this friendship stays strong through time, circling back no matter what!
Uranus: Your #7 Friend
Uranus means this friendship is unexpected and always full of surprises. Like Uranus spinning on its side, this friend flips the script and keeps your Snapchat universe interesting.
Neptune: Your #8 Friend
Neptune means this friendship runs deep, emotional, and almost cosmic. This bond is all about understanding without words. Like Neptune’s distant orbit, this friend may be far but always feels close in spirit.💙
Explaining Real User Confusions About Planets
Profile shows best friend badge but there is no planet?
If you’re only seeing the badge (but no planet), it’s probably because you talk to them a lot, but they talk to others more and you didn’t make it into their Best Friends list.
I only see my position for some of my best friends?
If someone is in your Best Friends list but you’re not in theirs, then you won’t see your planet position in their solar system.
Can I see my position in someone’s bsf list when they are not in my list?
You can still see your position in others best friend list even if they are not in yours. You can only see if you are in someone’s top 8 friends.
Want to prevent others from seeing their position in your bsf list?
If planets are turned on, they’ll be able to see which planet they are in your solar system, and you’ll see your position in theirs too. Unfortunately, there’s no setting to hide just your planet without turning off the whole Friend Solar System feature.
Will others know I have solar system on?
There is no indication that if someone is using solar system. However, they will know by seeing planet if they have snapchat+ with solar system feature on and best friends with you.
It does not show planet just says when we became friends?
The Snapchat Planet feature only shows up when:
- You both have Snapchat+
- You both have Friend Solar System turned on
- And you’re Best Friends with each other
How To See Planet In Friend’s Profile?
To see your friend’s planet on snapchat you must be using snapchat+ and enabled solar system option in settings. By default on first time subscribing snap+ it is off.
- Open Snapchat.
- Tap on your friend’s Bitmoji to open their profile.
- Tap Best Friends or Friends badge.
- Snapchat prompt will show you a planet.
There is also a minor difference between Best Friends and Friends badges.
Best Friend vs Friend Badge Meaning
You’ll notice a “Best Friends” or “Friends” badge with a gold outline when you look at a friend’s profile. The Best Friends badge indicates that person is in your top eight best friends. On the other hand, the Friends badge shows that you’re in their top eight friend list, but they aren’t in yours.
Extended Best Friends List vs Snapchat Planets List
Extended best friends list feature lets Snapchat+ subscribers see their top 16 friends (vs. the standard 8) ranked by interaction. It privately tracks weekly position changes (shows movers), visible only to you.
| Feature | Extended Best Friends List | Snapchat Planets List |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Track your top 16 friends | See your rank in someone else’s top 8 |
| Visibility | Only you see it | Only you see your planet in others’ lists |
| Format | Text list with rank changes | Color-coded planets (Mercury, Venus, etc.) |
| Updates | Weekly | Weekly (but less obvious) |
| Default Setting | Always on for Snapchat+ | Off by default (must enable) |
To access Extended BSF list
- Go to your Profile
- Tap your Snapchat+ membership card
- Select ‘Extended Best Friends List’
Tips to Increase Your Snapchat Planets Ranking
Here are some tips on how to increase your Snap planets ranking:
- Snap Frequently: The more you snap with a friend, the closer the planet will be in solar system.
- Reply Quickly: Responding to snaps quickly shows that you’re engaged in the conversation and value your friendship.
- Send Snaps First: Initiating conversations by sending the first snap can help boost your ranking.
- Share Stories: Sharing stories with your friends can also help increase your planet ranking.
- Use Bitmoji: Using Bitmoji in your snaps can make them more engaging and increase your chances of getting a reply.
- Be Consistent: Make a habit of snapping with your friends regularly to maintain a high ranking.
How to Enable Or Disable Snapchat Solar System?
There is a toggle switch to turn on or off the solar system in Snapchat plus settings.
- Open Snapchat.
- Tap on Your Bitmoji and open “Snapchat+” settings.
- Scroll down to solar system and tap the toggle switch.
The Snapchat Planets Controversy
Snapchat’s planet ranking system started as fun but backfired. Teens began stressing over their positions – was I Mercury (BFF) or just Saturn (#6)? The feature meant to show friendship closeness accidentally created anxiety.
By late 2023, major outlets like WSJ reported on the unexpected stress.
Snapchat responded in April 2024 by making planets off by default. Many users panicked, thinking the feature was gone. Actually, it just became opt-in – still available in settings for those who want it.
Now the Solar System remains as a choice rather than an automatic feature. The controversy led to Snapchat better balancing fun features with user wellbeing.