Snapchat Demoting the Snapchat Planets Feature: The Shocking Reasons Behind the Change!
Snapchat Demoting the Snapchat Planets, which used to display friends’ positions in the form of planets (e.g., Mercury #1 best friend, Venus #2, etc.). There are three main reasons for demoting the feature: first, it was only used by 0.25% of users; second, it was having a negative impact on young people’s mental health (such as competition and pressure in friendships); and third, it is now optional for Snapchat+ users only.
The feature is no longer automatically turned on — Snapchat+ members will have to manually turn it on in their settings. While some users may have liked the feature, Snapchat’s decision shows that it is prioritizing user well-being over entertainment. In the future, if the feature’s usage declines further, Snapchat may remove it entirely.
What Was the Snapchat Planets Feature?
How It Worked
The Snapchat Planets system was a visual ranking tool that showed users where they stood in their friends’ close circles. Each planet represented a friendship tier:
- Mercury = #1 best friend
- Venus = #2 best friend
- Earth = #3 best friend
- …and so on, up to Pluto for #8.
It was part of Snapchat’s “Solar System” feature, available exclusively to Snapchat+ subscribers.
Why Did People Like It?
At first, users loved it because:
✅ It made friendships feel competitive (in a fun way).
✅ It gave a clear “status” in someone’s social circle.
✅ It was a unique, gamified way to see relationships.
But over time, the feature started causing more drama than fun.
Why is Snapchat Backing Away from Planets?
Reason 1: Hardly Anyone Used It
According to Snapchat’s own data:
- Only 0.25% of daily users (about 1 million people) actually engaged with the Planets feature.
- That’s extremely low for a platform with over 414 million daily users.
If a feature isn’t popular, why keep pushing it?
Reason 2: Mental Health Concerns
A Wall Street Journal (WSJ) investigation found that the Planet’s system was hurting some teens’ mental health. Here’s why:
🔴 Pressure to “Rank Higher” – Teens felt stressed about their planet position, worrying if they weren’t Mercury (#1) in their friends’ lists.
🔴 Friendship Drama – Some friendships were strained when users realized they were “lower-ranked” than expected.
🔴 Unhealthy Competition – Instead of just enjoying friendships, some users obsessively check their planet status.
Because of these concerns, Snapchat decided to reduce the feature’s visibility.
Reason 3: Moving to Opt-In (Not Default)
Before this change:
- If you bought Snapchat+, the Planets feature was automatically turned on.
Now:
- Snapchat+ users must manually enable it in settings.
- Regular users can’t access it at all.
This means fewer people will use it, and Snapchat seems okay with that.
What Does This Change Mean for Users?
For Snapchat+ Subscribers
- You can still use Planets, but you have to turn it on yourself.
- Go to Settings > Snapchat+ > Solar System to enable it.
For Regular Users
- The feature is completely gone unless you upgrade to Snapchat+.
Will Snapchat Remove Planets Completely?
It’s possible. If engagement stays low, Snapchat might phase it out entirely, just like they’ve done with other underused features in the past.
FAQs About Demoting the Snapchat Planets
Final Thoughts
Snapchat’s decision to demote the Planets feature shows the platform is paying attention to how its features affect users, especially younger ones. While some will miss the playful competition of planet rankings, the change reflects a bigger shift in social media: fun shouldn’t come at the cost of mental wellbeing.
This does not necessarily mean Planets will disappear forever. If enough Snapchat+ users opt in, Snapchat might keep it around as a niche feature. But for now, it’s clear the platform values healthy social connections over gamified popularity contests.
