How the Snapchat Planet Order Ranks Your Best Friends

The Snapchat Planet Order is a unique feature within the app’s “Friend Solar System” that visually represents your closest connections based on interaction frequency. Each user has their own personalized solar system where planets represent their top eight friends, with each planet corresponding to a specific position in the ranking.

This gamified version of friendship ranking adds an engaging layer to the app experience, making it more interactive and fun for users who enjoy tracking their relationships through digital platforms.

The algorithm behind the Snapchat Planet is based on how often you communicate with other users via snaps, chats, and stories. The more frequently you interact with someone, the higher they rank in your solar system—and the closer their planet appears to your sun, which symbolizes you.

How Snapchat Determines Your Friend Rankings

Interaction Frequency: The Core Factor

At the heart of the Snapchat Planet lies interaction frequency. Snapchat uses a proprietary algorithm to track how often you send snaps, chat, or view stories with other users. These interactions are weighted differently—sending a snap might carry more weight than viewing a story, for instance—but overall, consistent engagement is key to staying high in someone’s solar system.

Types of Interactions That Matter Most

While all forms of engagement contribute to your ranking, some actions have a greater impact than others. Sending photos and videos directly, replying to messages, and initiating conversations tend to boost your standing faster than passive activities like simply viewing someone’s story.

Additionally, streaks—consecutive days of snapping back and forth—play a significant role in maintaining a top spot in the Snapchat Planet. Losing a streak could mean losing your place on someone’s Mercury or Venus.

Time-Based Influence on Rankings

The Snapchat Planet isn’t static—it changes over time based on recent activity. If you stop interacting with someone who was previously your top friend, they may drop lower in the planetary hierarchy, replaced by someone you’ve been chatting with more recently.

This dynamic nature makes the Snapchat Planet not just a snapshot of current friendships but also a reflection of evolving relationships over time.

Breaking Down Each Planet in the Snapchat Solar System

Mercury: Your Number One Best Friend

In the Snapchat Planet, Mercury represents your most interacted friend—the person you communicate with the most frequently. Whether it’s sending snaps daily, sharing long conversations, or keeping up with each other’s stories, being on Mercury means you two are inseparable in the digital world.

Mercury is the closest planet to the sun (you), symbolizing the strongest bond. This position is highly coveted, and many users take pride in either holding it or having someone special occupy it.

Venus: Second Closest Connection

Venus comes next in the Snapchat Planet, signifying your second-best friend. While not quite as dominant as Mercury, being on Venus still indicates a strong and consistent relationship. Often, this spot is held by a sibling, partner, or another close confidant.

Maintaining this position requires regular interaction, though not necessarily at the same level as Mercury. A drop here might signal a shift in priorities or reduced communication.

Earth: Your Third-Best Friend

Earth holds the third position in the Snapchat Planet, representing your third-most-interacted friend. This person is likely someone you talk to regularly, whether it’s for school, work, or shared hobbies.

Unlike Mercury or Venus, Earth can be more volatile—meaning someone in this spot can easily move up or down depending on recent activity levels.

Mars: Fourth Place Bond

Mars marks the fourth spot in the Snapchat Planet. This friend is important but doesn’t receive the same level of daily attention as those above them. It could be a good friend you don’t speak to every day or someone you recently reconnected with.

Being on Mars doesn’t mean the relationship is weak—it just reflects a slightly less frequent interaction pattern compared to the first three spots.

Jupiter: Fifth Strongest Relationship

Jupiter is the fifth planet in the Snapchat Planet, indicating a solid but less frequent connection. This person might be a classmate, coworker, or someone you only message during specific times.

Because of its distance from the sun in the solar system analogy, Jupiter often represents a friendship that needs more nurturing to climb higher.

Saturn: Sixth Level of Interaction

Saturn occupies the sixth position in the Snapchat Planet, typically reserved for friends you communicate with occasionally. This might include people you used to be close with or those you only catch up with sporadically.

Saturn is known for rings, and similarly, this spot might feel like it’s encircled by memories rather than constant contact.

Uranus: Seventh Spot Friendship

Uranus holds the seventh place in the Snapchat Planet, often filled by someone you interact with infrequently. This could be a friend from the past or someone you only reach out to when something prompts you to reconnect.

Due to its distant placement, Uranus is one of the easier spots to lose if communication drops off entirely.

Neptune: Eighth and Final Friend

Neptune completes the Snapchat Planet, representing your eighth and final top friend. Being on Neptune doesn’t mean the relationship is unimportant—it just means it’s the least active of your top eight.

This person might be someone you haven’t spoken to in a while or someone whose presence in your life has diminished over time.

Why the Snapchat Planet Order Matters to Users

Emotional Significance Behind Rankings

For many users, especially younger demographics, the Snapchat Planet carries emotional weight. Seeing someone ranked high—or dropping from Mercury to Neptune—can influence feelings of closeness or distance in a relationship.

Some users even treat these rankings as a badge of honor, comparing their positions with friends or trying to reclaim a lost spot. Others find comfort in knowing where they stand without having to ask directly.

Social Validation Through Digital Ranking

The Snapchat Planetserves as a form of social validation. Being placed near the sun feels affirming, reinforcing a sense of importance in someone’s life. Conversely, seeing a romantic partner slip down the planetary scale can cause concern or curiosity.

This subtle yet powerful feedback loop encourages ongoing interaction, making the Snapchat Planet a compelling psychological tool within the app.

Impact on Teen and Young Adult Relationships

Among teens and young adults, the Snapchat Planet plays a particularly influential role. It shapes perceptions of loyalty, popularity, and intimacy in peer groups. Some users even joke about breaking up if they’re not on Mercury or celebrate when they rise in the rankings.

Though lighthearted, these reactions highlight how deeply integrated the Snapchat Planet has become in modern digital relationships.

How to Improve Your Position in Someone Else’s Snapchat Planet Order

Increase Daily Communication

One of the most effective ways to climb the Snapchat Planet is to increase your daily communication. This includes sending snaps, responding quickly to messages, and initiating conversations.

Consistency is key—random bursts of interaction won’t help much unless they become a regular habit. Setting reminders or creating routines around messaging can help maintain steady engagement.

Participate in Streaks

Streaks play a major role in maintaining a high position in the Snapchat Planet . To keep a streak alive, both parties must send at least one snap to each other within a 24-hour window.

If you want to stay on Mercury or Venus, make sure you don’t let any streaks expire. These digital fire emojis are more than just icons—they’re indicators of commitment.

Engage with Stories and Memories

Beyond direct messaging, engaging with someone’s stories and memories also contributes to your standing in the Snapchat Planet. Viewing their posts consistently signals interest and involvement, even if you aren’t always exchanging direct messages.

Liking or commenting on stories can further strengthen your presence in their digital orbit.

Be Strategic About Timing

Since the Snapchat Planet updates dynamically, timing matters. If you’ve noticed a drop in rank, increasing your activity over a short period can help you climb back up.

Avoid long gaps between interactions, as even a few days of silence can result in a noticeable shift in your planetary position.

How to Maintain Your Top Spots in Multiple Snapchat Planet Orders

Prioritize Key Relationships

To stay high in multiple Snapchat Planet lists, prioritize your key relationships. Focus on maintaining consistent communication with the people who matter most to you.

Whether it’s a partner, sibling, or best friend, showing up regularly ensures you remain relevant in their digital universe.

Use Group Chats Strategically

Group chats can be a double-edged sword. While they allow you to interact with multiple friends at once, they may dilute individual attention. However, participating actively in group discussions can still count toward your ranking in the Snapchat Planet.

Balance personal messages with group interactions to maintain visibility across different circles.

Schedule Regular Check-Ins

Life gets busy, but scheduling regular check-ins with friends can help you maintain your spot in the Snapchat Planet . Even a quick “Hey, how are you?” or a funny meme can keep your connection active.

Consider setting weekly goals for reaching out to key contacts to avoid slipping down the planetary hierarchy.

Avoid Long Periods of Inactivity

The longer you go without interacting, the more likely you are to fall down the Snapchat Planet. If you know you’ll be unavailable, set up auto-replies or send scheduled messages to keep your presence felt.

Even small gestures can prevent a dramatic drop in your planetary status.

Common Misconceptions About the Snapchat Planet Order

Myth: You Can Manually Choose Who Appears Where

A common misconception is that users can manually assign friends to specific planets in the Snapchat Planet. However, the entire system is automated, relying solely on interaction data.

You cannot control who appears where—only your behavior determines the ranking.

Myth: Rankings Are Based on Mutual Activity

Another myth is that the Snapchat Planet reflects mutual activity. In reality, your ranking in someone else’s solar system depends only on how much they interact with you , not vice versa.

This means you could be on someone’s Mercury while barely talking to them, or vice versa.

Myth: Only Snaps Count Toward Rankings

While sending snaps does carry weight, it’s not the only factor in the Snapchat Planet. Chatting, viewing stories, and maintaining streaks all contribute to your ranking.

Understanding this helps users diversify their interactions beyond just sending photos or videos.

Myth: Rankings Are Permanent

Some users believe that once you’re on Mercury, you’ll always stay there. But the Snapchat Planet is constantly updated based on recent activity.

Changes in lifestyle, relationships, or schedules can all lead to shifts in your planetary status.

Privacy Concerns and Ethical Considerations Around the Snapchat Planet

Is the Snapchat Planet Private?

Yes, the Snapchat Planet is private by default. Only you can see your own solar system, and only your top friends can see theirs. This ensures that your rankings aren’t publicly visible, preserving a level of privacy.

However, screenshots can be taken and shared, so it’s important to be mindful of how your rankings might be interpreted by others.

Should You Share or Hide Your Planet Order?

Deciding whether to share your Snapchat Planet depends on your relationship dynamics. For some, it’s a fun way to bond; for others, it can cause unnecessary tension.

If you’re unsure, consider the maturity and trust level in your relationships before revealing your rankings.

Ethical Implications of Knowing Your Rank

Knowing where you stand in someone’s Snapchat Planet can lead to comparisons and expectations. It’s important to remember that rankings reflect digital interaction habits—not emotional value.

Overemphasizing your planetary position can strain friendships, especially if misunderstandings arise.

Managing Expectations and Feelings

It’s natural to feel excited or disappointed based on your position in the Snapchat Planet, but managing expectations is crucial. Not everyone communicates the same way, and rankings can fluctuate due to circumstances beyond control.

Approach the feature with humor and understanding rather than seriousness.

The Future of the Snapchat Planet and Social Media Friend Rankings

Will Snapchat Expand the Planet System?

As of now, the Snapchat Planet features only eight planets. However, given the popularity of the feature, it’s possible that Snapchat may expand the system in the future.

Adding more planets or introducing new celestial bodies could allow for deeper insights into user interactions and broader friend networks.

Could Other Platforms Adopt Similar Features?

The success of the Snapchat Planet has inspired speculation about whether other platforms will follow suit. Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok could introduce similar ranking systems to enhance user engagement.

These features would likely focus on interaction analytics, offering users visual representations of their digital relationships.

How Friend Rankings Shape Online Behavior

Friend-ranking features like the Snapchat Planet subtly influence online behavior by encouraging more frequent communication. They create incentives for staying connected and can affect how users perceive their relationships.

As these tools evolve, they may become more sophisticated, incorporating AI-driven insights into friendship patterns.

Balancing Fun and Digital Wellbeing

While the Snapchat Planet is designed to be entertaining, it’s essential to balance its use with digital wellbeing. Overthinking your planetary rank can lead to anxiety or unhealthy comparisons.

Using the feature mindfully—treating it as a game rather than a measure of worth—ensures a healthier relationship with both the app and your friends.

Conclusion: Embrace the Fun of the Snapchat Planet

The Snapchat Planet is more than just a quirky feature—it’s a reflection of how we connect, communicate, and compete in the digital age. From Mercury to Neptune, each planet tells a story about our relationships and how we engage with the people in our lives.

Understanding how the Snapchat Planet works empowers users to navigate their friendships more consciously. Whether you’re striving to reclaim a lost spot or simply curious about your standing, this feature offers a unique lens into the dynamics of digital interaction.