Snapchat isn’t just a place to throw on silly filters and send random snaps anymore. Over the years, it has turned into a social world of its own. Friendships are formed here, measured here, and sometimes even tested here. One of the quirkiest things Snapchat rolled out for paid users is called the Snapchat Planets Order.
At first, it just looks like a cute solar system floating on your screen. But once you look closer, it actually shows how Snapchat lines up your friendships. It sorts people by how much you interact with them. And that’s where curiosity begins. People ask themselves: Why am I Mercury for one friend but only Jupiter for another? Or does this mean I matter more to someone compared to others?
That’s why we’re going to break it all down. We’ll walk through what the Snapchat Planets Order is, how it works, and what it might say about the friendships in your digital orbit.
Key Takeaways:
- Snapchat Planets Order ranks your closest friends.
- The system is part of Snapchat Plus.
- Inner planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth) represent your strongest bonds.
- The ranking is built on snaps, chats, streaks, and engagement.
- Fun to look at, but it doesn’t replace real friendships.
What Is Snapchat Planets Order Anyway?
The Snapchat Planets Order lives inside the Snapchat Friend Solar System, which is a perk in Snapchat Plus. Instead of a plain “best friends” list, Snapchat wanted to make things visual and playful. That’s where planets came in.
In this setup, you’re always the Sun. Around you spin your top eight friends, placed as planets in order: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
So your friendships end up looking like a mini universe. And the closer a planet is to you, the more connected you are with that person on Snapchat.
How Does Snapchat Decide the Order?
Snapchat doesn’t just pick planets at random. It uses signals to figure out who belongs where. The main ones are:
- Snaps you send and receive → The more you exchange, the higher they land.
- Chat activity → Frequent texting keeps them close.
- Stories engagement → If you reply or interact with their stories, that counts.
- Streaks → The longer the streak, the stronger the bond.
For example:
- The friend you send memes and selfies to every single day? That person’s your Mercury.
- Another friend you talk to once in a while? They could show up as Jupiter or Saturn.
And the order isn’t fixed. Stop snapping your “Mercury” for a while and they’ll start drifting further away. Another friend might slide into that top spot.
The Planets and Their Meanings
Here’s how the planets line up and what each one says about your Snapchat friendships:
Snapchat planets symbolize how different friendships are in reality in the app. These planets show your ranking with any given friend, with Mercury being your closest buddy: you communicate and interact mostly, with Venus as the second closest, and Earth in third as a steady, permanent top friend. Mars is fourth, denoting a good-but-not-so-intense relationship; Jupiter is fifth, denoting a nice but not-so-constant one. Saturn occupies the sixth position: still important but not daily. Seventh is Uranus, which falls into the ‘somewhere in your circle but a tad lower priority’ category, whilst eighth is Neptune, which experiences the least interaction from the top eight. Very simply, the farther a planet is from the Sun (you), the weaker the bond you share on Snapchat with that friend.
Why Did Snapchat Add Planets Order?
Snapchat could’ve kept the old “best friends” list. But the Snapchat Planets Order makes the whole thing way more interesting.
Here’s why Snapchat pushed it out:
- It looks fun. A solar system feels cooler than a boring list.
- It keeps people snapping. If you see your rank drop, you’ll want to snap more.
- It makes Snapchat Plus worth buying. Planets are only for paid users.
- It feeds curiosity. People love checking where they stand in someone else’s orbit.
Imagine being Mercury in someone’s system but only Saturn in theirs. That little detail can spark endless curiosity and sometimes a friendly competition to move up.
Do Planets Affect Friendships?
For many young users, especially teens, the Snapchat Planets Order has turned into a big deal. And it does influence friendships in both good and not-so-good ways.
The bright side:
- It gives friends a reason to stay connected.
- Daily snapping becomes more fun.
- Streak culture gets stronger.
The tricky side:
- Some get jealous if they expected to be Mercury but see themselves as Jupiter.
- People can start overthinking friendships.
- It pressures users to snap just to hold a spot.
That’s why it’s smart to treat the feature as fun, not as a serious measure of loyalty.
Who Gets to See the Planets?
The solar system isn’t open to everyone. You need Snapchat Plus to view it.
- If you subscribe, you’ll see your own planets.
- If your friend also subscribes, you can see where you stand in their solar system too.
This makes it a two-way mirror. Sometimes it’s exciting. Sometimes it’s awkward.
What’s Snapchat Plus and Why Does It Matter?
Since the Snapchat Planets Order is part of Snapchat Plus, it’s worth knowing what that is. Snapchat Plus is the app’s paid membership. It gives extras like:
- The Friend Solar System.
- Story rewatch numbers.
- Custom app icons.
- Priority replies.
- Special badges.
For a lot of users, the Planets are the main reason they buy Snapchat Plus.
Old Best Friends List vs. New Planets
Before this update, Snapchat had a Best Friends list. It showed your top eight, plain and simple. No color, no planets, no creativity.
The Snapchat Planets Order changed that. Now you get:
- A colorful solar system.
- More meaning in each position.
- A fun game-like ranking instead of a flat chart.
Friendships suddenly feel more like a mini adventure inside the app.
Real-Life Example of Planets Order
Picture this: you’re a student and here’s how your Snapchat habits shape your planets.
- You snap Sarah every single day. She’s Mercury.
- You text Mike, your cousin, but don’t send many snaps. He’s Earth.
- You share funny clips with Jake every now and then. He’s Jupiter.
- You only chat with Anna once in a blue moon. She’s Neptune.
That’s how the Snapchat Planets Order mirrors your actual activity.
Clearing Up Myths
A lot of users still get the wrong idea about planets. Let’s bust a few myths:
- Myth 1: “If I’m Mercury, I’ll always be their best friend.”
- Nope. It only shows who you’re most active with right now.
- Nope. It only shows who you’re most active with right now.
- Myth 2: “If I move down, it means they don’t like me anymore.”
- Wrong again. They might just be busy, or they’re snapping others more.
- Wrong again. They might just be busy, or they’re snapping others more.
- Myth 3: “Planets show if someone likes me romantically.”
- Nope. It’s all about interaction, not feelings.
Why People Care So Much
Here’s the truth: people love rankings. From grades to sports scores to follower counts, humans compare. Snapchat leaned into that habit with the Snapchat Planets Order.
Now friendships feel like a scoreboard. People brag about being Mercury. They sulk when they slip to Saturn. This emotional pull is exactly why Snapchat users keep checking and snapping.
How People React to Planets
Here’s a quick table showing how users usually feel about each rank:
People will differ in their reactions depending on the other battlefield that someone is placed on in their Snapchat planets. Friends on Mercury bring the feeling of pride, joy, and special treatment. Venus, good in any case, is destined to show closeness, while Earth connotes comfort and a safe bond. Mars friends are rather solid and neutral. Jupiter can stir up feelings of disappointment since the relation is not strong enough, and Saturn leaves the person wondering why there is some distance from them. Uranus tends to be shocking, marking someone as still inside the circle albeit not closely, while Neptune leaves one scratching their head as to why the person made the list.
FAQs on Snapchat Planets Order
Q1. Do planets stay in the same place forever?
No. They move as your activity changes.
Q2. Does being Mercury mean we’re real-life besties?
Not exactly. It just shows you snap the most, but offline bonds can be different.
Q3. Can I remove someone from my planets?
No. The app sets the order automatically.
Q4. Why don’t I see my planets?
You need Snapchat Plus to use this feature.
Q5. Can I be Mercury for more than one person?
Yes. Everyone has their own solar system, so you can be Mercury in multiple systems.
Final Thoughts
The Snapchat Planets Order is one of the most fun and creative ways to track digital friendships. It mixes curiosity with play, making the app feel more alive than just a place for chatting.
But here’s the thing: don’t read too deeply into it. Friendships aren’t defined by a spot on a digital planet map. If you’re Neptune in someone’s system, it doesn’t mean you don’t matter. It might just mean you haven’t snapped much lately.
