Social media platforms have always tried to quantify our digital relationships. From the public "Top 8" on early networking sites to algorithmic "close friends" lists on modern apps, we are constantly being shown exactly where we stand with the people we talk to online. However, Snapchat recently took this concept to an entirely new, visually stunning level. By replacing standard emojis with an interactive, cosmic hierarchy, the app transformed basic messaging into a literal galaxy of friendships. If you are a premium subscriber trying to figure out exactly how this intricate system works, understanding the planets for snapchat is absolutely essential for navigating your digital social circle.
In this comprehensive guide, we will break down exactly what the Friend Solar System is, the precise order of the planets, the psychology behind why it is so addictive, and how to manage the feature if the social pressure becomes a little too intense.
What Exactly is the Friend Solar System?
The Friend Solar System is an exclusive, premium feature available only to Snapchat+ subscribers. Before this update, Snapchat utilized a fairly standard set of emojis—like the yellow heart, the fire icon, or the smiling face—to indicate your relationship status with your most frequently messaged contacts. The Solar System feature completely overhauled this concept.
When you subscribe to Snapchat+, the app transforms your top eight "Best Friends" into a digital galaxy. In this scenario, your friend represents the "Sun," and you are assigned a specific planet that orbits them. The specific planet you represent dictates exactly where you stand on their Best Friends list. Being Mercury means you are their absolute number one closest friend, while being Neptune means you are sitting at the very outer edge of their top eight. It is important to note that this system is entirely private. You can only see your own orbit around a friend; you cannot see who else is in their solar system.
How to Check Your Planetary Status
If you have just upgraded to the premium tier and want to check your social orbit, finding your planets is incredibly straightforward:

1. Open the App: Navigate to your main Chat screen, where all your recent conversations are listed.
2. Find a Best Friend: Tap on the Bitmoji or profile icon of someone you frequently snap. Remember, you both need to be interacting enough to actually be on each other's Best Friends list for this to work.
3. Locate the Badge: Look directly under their display name on their profile. If you are in their top eight, you will see a badge that says "Best Friends" (meaning you are in each other's top eight) or "Friends" (meaning you are in their top eight, but they are not in yours) outlined in a gold ring.
   
   
   
4. Tap to Reveal: Tap directly on that golden badge. The screen will instantly transition to a cosmic background, revealing exactly which planet you are in their specific solar system.
   
   
   

The Official Planetary Order and Meanings
Snapchat does not explicitly label the planets with numbers in the app interface, meaning you have to identify your rank purely by the visual design and color of the planet you are assigned. Here is the exact breakdown of the orbital hierarchy, from closest to furthest:

• Mercury (1st Best Friend): A dark red planet surrounded by small red hearts. If you are Mercury, you are their absolute top priority. This spot requires intense, daily mutual snapping.
  
  
  
• Venus (2nd Best Friend): A light brown, sandy-colored planet featuring a yellow, pink, and blue heart motif. You are incredibly close, but just shy of the top spot.
  
  
  
• Earth (3rd Best Friend): The classic blue and green globe, adorned with a red heart, stars, and a tiny moon orbiting it. A solid, highly active friendship.
  
  
  
• Mars (4th Best Friend): A distinctly red planet covered in craters, featuring purple and blue hearts. This signifies frequent, reliable communication.
  
  
  
• Jupiter (5th Best Friend): A massive reddish-orange planet with dark, prominent stripes and a few small stars around it. You are right in the middle of their active social circle.
  
  
  
• Saturn (6th Best Friend): A yellow-orange planet easily defined by its massive, distinct rings. You communicate regularly, but perhaps not every single day.
  
  
  
• Uranus (7th Best Friend): A pale, icy green and blue planet with no rings. Your communication is likely a bit more sporadic or relaxed.
  
  
  
• Neptune (8th Best Friend): A deep, dark blue planet, representing the very edge of the best friend list. If communication drops off, you will likely fall out of orbit entirely.
  
  
  

The Psychology Behind Digital Friendship Rankings
Why did Snapchat introduce this, and why are users so heavily invested in checking their planets? The answer taps directly into a deeply ingrained psychological desire to understand our social standing within our peer groups.
Seeing yourself drop from Mars (4th place) to Jupiter (5th place) can genuinely spark conversations or encourage users to engage with the app more frequently. It gamifies the simple act of sending a text or a photo. Suddenly, maintaining a Snapstreak isn't just about the number next to someone's name; it is about physically fighting the algorithm to maintain your coveted status as their "Mercury." It adds a layer of competitive fun to everyday communication.
However, a common misconception is that sending a hundred snaps to someone guarantees you will be their top planet. The algorithm calculates these rankings based on a heavily weighted combination of factors, including the raw volume of snaps, text-based chats, and story interactions. Crucially, the system rewards mutual communication. If they are not replying to your snaps with the same frequency, your rank will not climb.
Addressing the Social Pressure: Toggling the Feature Off
While millions of users absolutely love the Solar System feature, Snapchat recognized that it can occasionally cause social anxiety. Finding out you are only "Saturn" to someone you consider a real-life best friend can lead to hurt feelings, even if it is just based on digital app usage.
In response to community feedback regarding the mental health impacts of digital ranking, Snapchat made a significant update. The Friend Solar System is now turned off by default for first-time subscribers. If you want to use it, you must actively choose to turn it on. Furthermore, if you decide the galactic ranking system is causing more stress than it is worth, you can easily disable the feature at any time in your Snapchat+ management settings. Disabling it hides your planetary status from others and removes the pressure of constantly monitoring your orbital rank.
Final Thoughts: Don't Let the Orbit Control You
The Snapchat Solar System is an incredibly fascinating, visually brilliant look into our digital communication habits. It brings a fun, interactive edge to keeping up with your friends and turns standard messaging metrics into a beautiful cosmic map.
However, it is vital to remember that these digital orbits are simply an algorithmic reflection of your app usage over a short period of time. A friend might drop you to "Uranus" simply because they have been busy with exams and are currently snapping a classmate more frequently for a project. The planets are an entertaining metric of your immediate app engagement, not a definitive measure of someone's loyalty or love. Enjoy the gamification, fight for that Mercury spot if you want to, but remember that the strongest, most authentic friendships exist far beyond the confines of a digital solar system.