Hey there! If you’ve been poking around your Snapchat profile lately and noticed a certain orange planet with rings floating around your bestie’s Bitmoji, you’ve probably had that “Wait, what does this mean?” moment. Don’t worry, you aren’t alone. I remember the first time I saw it; I actually thought it was some kind of achievement badge for being a space nerd.
As a massive Snapchat power user who lives and breathes this app (seriously, my streaks are older than some of my younger cousins), I’ve spent way too much time decoding these cosmic mysteries. If you’re seeing Saturn on Snapchat, you’ve officially entered the “Friend Solar System,” a feature exclusive to Snapchat Plus users.
But what does it actually say about your friendship? Grab a coffee, and let’s break down exactly where you stand in the galaxy of your friend’s contact list.
My Personal Experience with Saturn on Snapchat
Last summer, I was convinced my friend Sarah and I were “Mercury-level” besties. We were snapping every day, sending memes at 2 AM, and maintaining a 400-day streak. One day, I decided to treat myself to a Snapchat Plus subscription. I went straight to Sarah’s profile, tapped that “Best Friends” badge, and… I was Saturn.
Honestly? It stung a little. In my head, we were #1 (Mercury). In the app’s cold, hard data, I was the #6 best friend. I realized that while we were snapping a lot, she was clearly sending way more content to five other people. It was a total “reality check” moment.
But here’s what I learned: being Saturn isn’t a bad thing. It actually means you’re still in their inner circle—their top 8. After a week of being “just” Saturn, I realized I’d been over-snapping and not actually talking. I changed my vibe, started sending more meaningful chats instead of just random ceiling fans, and eventually, I watched myself move from the ringed planet toward Earth and finally Venus. It’s a game of consistency, and Saturn is just your starting line for the climb to the top.
Read More: Snapchat Planet Hearts Meaning
What Does Saturn on Snapchat Actually Mean?
In simple terms, Saturn on Snapchat means you are that person’s 6th closest friend.
Snapchat uses the order of the actual planets in our solar system to rank your top eight friends. Since you (or your friend) are the Sun in the center, everyone else orbits you based on how much you interact.
The Identity of the “Orange Planet with Rings”
Visually, Saturn is very easy to spot. It’s a yellow-orange planet with its signature prominent ring and a few stars or “sparkles” scattered around it. If you see this icon when you tap on the “Best Friends” badge in a friend’s profile, it’s the app’s way of telling you that you’ve secured the #6 spot.
How the Ranking is Calculated
Snapchat doesn’t just pick these at random. The system looks at:
- Snap Frequency: How many pictures and videos you send back and forth.
- Chat Activity: How much time you spend actually typing to each other.
- Streaks: While not the only factor, keeping a long streak definitely helps you stay in the orbit.
- Recency: If you haven’t talked in three days, don’t be surprised if you drop from Mars down to Saturn.
Decoding the Snapchat Plus Icons
The Snapchat Plus icons can be confusing if you don’t have the planetary order memorized from 5th-grade science class. Each planet represents a specific rank. Here is a quick breakdown of where Saturn sits compared to the others:
The Inner Circle (Ranks 1-4)
- Mercury: Your #1 Best Friend. Red planet with red hearts.
- Venus: Your #2 Best Friend. Light brown planet with pink and yellow hearts.
- Earth: Your #3 Best Friend. Blue and green with a moon and red hearts.
- Mars: Your #4 Best Friend. Red planet with stars and purple/blue hearts.
The Outer Reach (Ranks 5-8)
- Jupiter: Your #5 Best Friend. Orange planet with dark stripes.
- Saturn: Your #6 best friend. The orange planet with rings.
- Uranus: Your #7 Best Friend. Green planet with no hearts.
- Neptune: Your #8 Best Friend. Deep blue planet, way out in the distance.
Comparison of Snapchat Planet Meanings
| Planet Icon | Rank | Visual Appearance | Vibe of the Friendship |
| Mercury | #1 | Red + Red Hearts | Absolute ride-or-die. |
| Venus | #2 | Gold/Brown + Multi-hearts | Very close, daily contact. |
| Earth | #3 | Blue/Green + Moon | Solid, reliable besties. |
| Mars | #4 | Red + Stars | Fun, consistent energy. |
| Jupiter | #5 | Striped Orange | Great friends, but not “top 4.” |
| Saturn | #6 | Orange with Rings | Steady, meaningful, but less frequent. |
| Uranus | #7 | Plain Green | Occasional check-ins. |
| Neptune | #8 | Deep Blue | Just barely made the cut! |
Why You Might Be Seeing Saturn
Have you ever wondered why you’re Saturn for one friend but maybe Earth for another? It’s all about the relative competition.
If your friend is a social butterfly who snaps 50 people a day, getting into their top 8 is actually quite an accomplishment. Being Saturn on Snapchat for a “heavy user” means you’re still incredibly relevant to them. However, if you’re Saturn for someone who barely uses the app, it might mean you guys only exchange a few snaps a week.
Does the Other Person Know?
Here’s the part that trips people up: This is private. Only you can see your position in their solar system, and only they can see theirs in yours. They won’t get a notification saying, “Hey, Martin just saw he’s your #6 friend.” So, no need to feel embarrassed if you’re lower on the list than you expected!
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is the Snapchat Solar System mutual?
Not necessarily! You could be someone’s Mercury (#1) because they snap you more than anyone else, but they might be your Saturn (#6) because you happen to have five other people you talk to even more. It’s a one-way street based on that person’s data.
2. Can I hide my planet from others?
Actually, yes. Due to some feedback about “friendship anxiety,” Snapchat now allows Plus subscribers to toggle the Solar System feature on or off. If you don’t want to see where you rank (or don’t want others to check theirs on your profile), you can disable it in your Snapchat Plus settings.
3. How often does the Saturn rank update?
In my experience, it updates every few days. It’s not instant. If you spend the whole weekend talking to a friend, you won’t immediately jump from Saturn to Mercury. Give it a bit of time for the algorithm to “crunch the numbers.
4. Why did I disappear from the solar system entirely?
If you can no longer see a planet icon, one of two things happened: either you dropped out of their top 8 entirely, or they turned off the Solar System feature in their settings.
Martin’s Final Tip
If you find yourself as Saturn on Snapchat, don’t sweat it! Rankings on an app are just data points, not a reflection of your actual worth as a friend. My advice? Use it as a fun way to gamify your social life. If you want to move up, send a few more meaningful snaps or start a deep conversation.
Would you like me to show you the step-by-step instructions on how to toggle the Solar System feature on or off in your settings?
