If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably spent a late night (or ten) obsessively checking your Snapchat Plus solar system. You know the drill: “Why am I only Earth? I literally snapped them ten minutes ago!” or “How is he my Mercury when we barely even chat?”
I’m Martin, a self-proclaimed Snapchat power user, and I’ve spent way too much time trying to reverse-engineer the “black box” that is the Snapchat algorithm. Lately, everyone’s been asking the same thing: Do story views affect Snapchat planets? It’s a valid question because, let’s be honest, we all have that one friend whose stories we watch religiously, even if we don’t always send a direct Snap.
The short answer? Yes, but it’s not as simple as just “watching.” Stick around, and I’ll walk you through the cosmic logic of how your interactions—especially those sneaky story views—actually move the needle on your planetary rank.
My Personal Experience with Story Rewatches
About three months ago, I decided to run a little “social experiment” on my best friend, Sarah. Usually, Sarah is my Mercury (the #1 spot). We have a massive streak and chat daily. But for one week, I decided to stop chatting with her entirely. No DMs, no direct Snaps—nothing.
However, I made sure to watch every single one of her stories. In fact, I used my Snapchat+ Rewatch Indicator to see if my obsessive re-watching would keep me in her orbit.
The result? Within four days, I dropped from Mercury to Mars.
I was shocked! Even though I was “engaging” by viewing her stories multiple times, the lack of direct Snaps and Chats caused a massive “orbital decay.” What I learned is that while story views are a piece of the puzzle, they are the “side dish,” not the “main course.” The algorithm treats a story view as a signal of interest, but it doesn’t carry the same weight as a 1-on-1 Snap exchange.
Do Story Views Affect Snapchat Planets? The Deep Dive
When we talk about the Friend Solar System, we’re looking at a ranking of your top 8 friends. To answer the burning question: do story views affect Snapchat planets?—yes, they are a documented ranking factor. However, the algorithm is weighted toward “active” interactions rather than “passive” ones.
The Hierarchy of Interaction
Snapchat’s algorithm doesn’t treat all clicks the same. Think of it like a points system:
- Direct Snaps (Photos/Videos): These are the “Gold Standard.” Sending a Snap that gets opened and replied to is the fastest way to hit Mercury.
- Individual Chats: Texting back and forth in the app is heavily weighted.
- Story Interactions: This includes viewing stories, replying to stories, and reacting with emojis.
- Story Rewatches: While you can see if someone rewatched your story with Snapchat+, it’s debated how much your rewatching of theirs counts compared to a first-time view.
Story Rewatches vs. Rank: Does Binging Help?
Many users on Reddit have theorized that rewatching a story multiple times acts as a “multiplier.” Based on my testing and community data, rewatching doesn’t seem to exponentially increase your rank. Snapchat tracks engagement, and while a rewatch shows high interest, the algorithm is designed to prevent “gaming the system.” If you could hit Mercury just by looping someone’s story 100 times, the rankings wouldn’t reflect real friendships.
Ranking Factors: What Moves You Closer to the Sun?
If you want to move from the cold outer reaches of Neptune to the fiery heat of Mercury, you need to understand the three pillars of the algorithm: Frequency, Reciprocity, and Variety.
1. Frequency (How Often)
Consistency is key. The algorithm looks at your activity over the last 7 to 30 days. If you go dark for a weekend, expect your planet to drift further away from your friend’s Sun.
2. Reciprocity (The Two-Way Street)
This is a big one. If you watch all their stories and send 50 Snaps, but they never reply or watch yours, you likely won’t hit a top-tier planet. The Solar System is a reflection of mutual interaction.
3. Variety (Mixing it Up)
Don’t just send “streaks” (the generic “S” photos). The algorithm loves it when you use different features:
- Sending Voice Notes.
- Playing Snappables (AR Games).
- Sending “Priority Story Replies” (a Snapchat+ exclusive).
Read More: How to Reset Snapchat Planets: Martin’s Expert Guide
Comparison of Interaction Impact
To make this easier to digest, I’ve put together a quick table showing how different actions likely impact your “Orbit Score.”
| Action | Impact Level | Why? |
| Sending a Video Snap | High | Shows high effort and direct engagement. |
| Chatting (Text) | Medium-High | Core communication method. |
| Viewing a Story | Low-Medium | Passive interaction; shows interest but not direct contact. |
| Story Reply | Medium | Converts a passive view into a direct chat. |
| Rewatching a Story | Low | Signals interest, but easily “spammed.” |
| Sending a Gift/Token | Medium | Paid interaction that signals high value. |
Understanding the “Planet Order”
For those who are new to Snapchat+, here is the official order. If you see these icons on a friend’s profile, here is where you stand in their world:
- Mercury: #1 Best Friend (The person you talk to the most).
- Venus: #2 Best Friend.
- Earth: #3 Best Friend.
- Mars: #4 Best Friend.
- Jupiter: #5 Best Friend.
- Saturn: #6 Best Friend.
- Uranus: #7 Best Friend.
- Neptune: #8 Best Friend.
FAQ: Your Burning Questions Answered
1. Can someone see if I’m checking their planet rank?
Nope! Checking a friend’s profile to see your planetary status is completely private. They won’t get a notification that you’re “orbiting” them.
2. If I stop watching their stories, will I lose my planet?
Eventually, yes. While story views aren’t the most important factor, they contribute to your overall engagement score. If you stop all interaction, you’ll eventually drop out of their top 8.
3. Does “Story Boost” affect my planet rank?
Story Boost (the Snapchat+ feature that moves your story to the front of the line) doesn’t directly change your rank, but it does increase the likelihood that people will watch and reply to your story, which indirectly boosts your stats.
4. Why did my planet change overnight?
Snapchat’s algorithm is dynamic. If your friend started a new “streak” with someone else or had a long 3-hour chat session with a different person, they might have jumped ahead of you in the “orbital” queue.
Martin’s Final Tip: The “Story Reply” Hack
If you really want to use stories to boost your rank, stop just watching and start replying. A simple story view is worth maybe “1 point” in the algorithm’s head. But a Story Reply immediately opens a Chat window. Now you’ve triggered two ranking factors: a Story View and a Chat Interaction. It’s the fastest way to climb the solar system without feeling like you’re trying too hard.
Have you noticed your rank jumping after a long night of chatting, or are you stuck out in Neptune like I was? Let me know!
