This will be used in showing your closest friends in a cosmically extraordinary way. It’s called the “Solar System,” and it is part of their subscription service for Snapchat+. In this article, we’re going to explore Snapchat solar system and much more about what this feature is, how it works, and why it has stirred up controversy.
What is the solar system on Snapchat?
The Snapchat Solar System simply means the top eight friends on your app, with yourself being the sun and your friends orbiting you like planets. The distance of a planet from the sun symbolizes just how close one is to the respective friend on Snapchat.
How Does It Work?
The algorithm taken by Snapchat in determining your “best friends” captures a variety of factors, some of which are:
Snaps Sent and Received: Repeatedly sending snaps to one person, or vice-versa, that person will rise closer to your sun.
Chats: The more often you talk with someone, the higher their placement in your solar system will be.
Story Views: This is a factor if one is watching someone’s stories regularly.
Other Interactions: Although Snapchat secretly keeps some of the details, factors like using Bitmoji together might contribute to this.
Order of the Planets and Their Meanings
- Mercury: Your absolute best friend, the person you interact with the most.
- Venus: Your second-closest friend.
- Earth: Your third best friend.
- Mars: Your fourth closest friend.
- Jupiter: Fifth place.
- Saturn is in sixth place.
- Seventh place: Uranus.
- Neptune: Your eighth closest friend.
- Why Did Snapchat Disable It?
Why Did the Solar System Go Dark?
This was the Snapchat Solar System default for all Snapchat+ users initially. Actually, it remained so for a very short period of time before this feature became very controversial and eventually disabled due to:
Mental Health Concerns: Some users have reported feelings of anxiety and stress over the ranking of their friends, worrying about their own position and creating comparison amongst friends.
Friend problems: It sometimes created confusion and tension between friends which could happen anytime that rankings changed.
Privacy Concerns: Some of the users were concerned about the data Snap collects to determine the rankings.
How to enable/disable it
While this feature is now disabled by default, you can still access the Solar System feature if you want to:
View Your Profile: Head to the top left area within the Snapchat app and click your profile icon.
Open Snapchat +: Tap the Snapchat plus banner. It’s gold.
Manage Features: Tap on Snapchat+, then toggle off “Solar System.”. Toggle It On or Off: Enable or disable it according to your preference.
Is the Solar System Still Relevant?
Nevertheless, some users still remain fond of the Solar System feature despite the controversy.
Fun and Enlightening: It is an interesting way of mapping out your friendships to see who you are talking to the most.
Competition: For some, it adds a playful element of competition among friends.
Important Considerations:
Don’t Take It Too Seriously: Keep in mind, guys—it’s just an algorithm; it doesn’t define the real value of your friendships.
Communication Is Key: If the Solar System comes with tension, talk about it with your friends.
Privacy: Be careful with the data Snapchat may collect. If you’re not comfortable, turn this feature off. The Future of the Snapchat Solar System hasn’t completely abandoned the feature. It’s exploring ways to make it more positive and less anxiety-inducing. It’s possible that a modified version could reappear in the future.
Read more: FlowGPT: Exploring the Power of AI-Language Models
Conclusion
While the Snapchat Solar System has Creations, it’s rather controversial but one-of-a-kind in helping one view friendships differently across the app. Embrace it or not, but with open communication and real connections shared with friends, that is the important part.
FAQs
Q: What exactly is the Snapchat Solar System?
A: It’s a visual representation within Snapchat that shows your eight closest friends on the app. You’re the sun, and your friends orbit around you like planets, with the closest friends being the closest planets.
Q: How does Snapchat decide who my closest friends are?
A: Snapchat’s algorithm looks at several factors, including how often you send snaps to each other, chat, view stories, and other interactions within the app.
Q: What do the different planets mean in the Solar System?
A: The planets are ranked in order of closeness to you (the sun). Mercury is your absolute best friend, Venus is your second closest, Earth is third, and so on.
Q: I heard Snapchat disabled the Solar System. Is that true?
A: Yes, it was initially enabled by default for Snapchat+ users but was later disabled due to concerns about mental health, friendship tensions, and privacy.
Q: Can I still see my Solar System if I want to?
A: Yes! While it’s no longer the default, you can enable it in your Snapchat+ settings if you’re curious to see it.
Q: Should I be worried about what my Solar System looks like?
A: No, not really. It’s just an algorithm’s interpretation of your interactions, and it doesn’t define the true value of your friendships.
Q: Is there anything I should keep in mind about the Solar System feature?
A: Yes, a few things: It’s just for fun and shouldn’t be taken too seriously. If it causes any tension between you and your friends, talk about it openly. Be aware that Snapchat collects data to determine the rankings, so consider your comfort level with that.
Q: Will Snapchat bring the Solar System back?
A: They haven’t completely abandoned it. They’re looking at ways to make it more positive and less anxiety-inducing, so it might return in a modified form.
Let me know if you have any other questions!
