Snapchat Planets Order Explained: What Do They Really Mean?

Snapchat has always been known for its innovative features, and one of the latest buzzes in the app is about Snapchat Planets. The concept revolves around friendship status, where users’ relationships are visually represented by planets in a solar system-like arrangement.

This post will break down the Snapchat Planets Order, their meaning, and how users can understand their relationships better on the app.

1. What Are Snapchat Planets?

Snapchat Planets is a feature in Snapchat’s Friend Solar System, which is part of the Snapchat Plus subscription.

In this system, friends are symbolized by different planets, showing their closeness to you based on how frequently you interact with them on the platform.

2. Understanding Snapchat Planets Order

The planets appear in the order of their distance from the Sun, with each friend corresponding to a planet.

The order of the planets is based on interaction levels with your friends, where each planet represents a particular level of friendship. The general order looks like this:

Mercury (Closest)
Venus
Earth
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune (Farthest)

The closer the planet is to the Sun, the stronger the bond between you and your friend. For example, if someone appears as Mercury in your solar system, they are your closest friend based on interaction levels.

3. How the Planets Represent Friendships

Each planet in the Snapchat system has a unique meaning related to your social connection with a specific friend. Here’s what each planet represents:

Mercury: This person is your best friend; you interact with them the most. Represented by 5 images of hearts.

Mercury

Venus: The second closest person in your friend group. Shown with 2 hearts in pink, 2 hearts in yellow and 1 heart in blue

Venus

Earth: Your third closest friend.

Earth

Mars: Represents a good friend but not as frequently interacted with as Mercury or Venus.

Mars

Jupiter: Signals friends that you interact with occasionally.

Jupiter

Saturn: This represents a friend with lower interaction levels.

Saturn

Uranus and Neptune: Friends you interact with the least.

Uranus

Neptune

Snapchat doesn’t display these levels directly, but the planets give a subtle way of visualizing your social circle.

source image: https://help.snapchat.com/

4. Snapchat Planets: Key Statistics and Data

Snapchat Plus Adoption

Snapchat Plus, the subscription service offering exclusive features like Friend Solar System, is reportedly priced at around $3.99 per month.
According to data from Business of Apps, Snapchat reached over 375 million daily active users by 2023, a significant portion of whom have embraced Snapchat Plus, especially after the introduction of features like Planets.

User Engagement Statistics

Research by Statista shows that users aged 18-24 are the most active Snapchat users, making up 38% of the platform’s user base. This age group is most likely to engage with features like Planets due to their social-driven habits.
Snapchat has maintained a high engagement rate with average daily message exchanges per user exceeding 50 interactions. The introduction of Planets encourages even more communication between close friends to climb the social “solar system.”

5. Why Snapchat Planets is Trending?

Gamification of Friendships

The trendiness of Snapchat Planets stems from the gamification of social interactions. Much like Snapchat’s Streaks, the Planets feature makes friendships more engaging by visualizing closeness in a fun, easily understandable way.

Social Competition

Users are constantly comparing their position in their friends’ social solar systems, creating a subtle competition over who interacts more and maintains stronger bonds. It taps into the social need for validation, especially in younger age groups.

Influence on Snapchat Plus Subscriptions

With the added exclusivity of the Friend Solar System being a Snapchat Plus feature, it acts as a lure for users to subscribe and explore more personalized experiences. Snapchat’s premium subscribers enjoy these small features that add layers to the app’s social experience.

6. How to See Snapchat Planets on Android or iPhone

To access the Snapchat Planets, users must be Snapchat Plus subscribers. Here’s how you can view your Friend Solar System:

Open Snapchat and go to the chat screen.
Tap on the Bitmoji of a friend.
If they are a part of your Best Friends Solar System, a planet icon will appear. Tapping on the icon reveals their planet and their position in your system.

Keep in mind that the friend also needs to be a Snapchat Plus subscriber for you to see this feature.

7. Conclusion

Snapchat Planets adds a fun, gamified layer to friendships, giving users an interactive way to view their relationships based on activity levels.

With its growing popularity among young users, it’s likely Snapchat will continue to build upon this feature, further evolving the way we interact with our social circles. Whether it’s reinforcing friendships or encouraging more engagement, Snapchat Planets offers a unique way to visualize our social world in a solar system of its own.