Have you ever opened a friend’s profile on Snapchat and felt like you needed a degree from NASA just to understand the icons? I’ve been there. Last Tuesday, I was grabbing a latte when I noticed a new icon on my cousin’s profile—a big, swirling orange planet with distinct stripes. It wasn’t the usual red heart or the gold star. It was Jupiter on Snapchat.
I’ll be honest: for a second, I panicked. Did I do something wrong? Why was I a gas giant all of a sudden? As a self-proclaimed Snapchat Power User, I had to dive deep into the Snapchat+ Solar System to figure out exactly where I stood. If you’ve seen that #5 best friend badge and wondered why you aren’t “Earth” or “Mars” anymore, grab a coffee. I’m going to break down exactly what this cosmic ranking means for your friendships.
My Personal Experience with Jupiter on Snapchat
A few months ago, my best friend Sarah and I were “Mercury” for over a year. We sent snaps daily, shared every meal, and basically lived in each other’s DMs. Then, life happened. I started a new project at work, and she got hooked on a new mobile game with a different group of friends.
One evening, I checked our friendship profile and saw the Jupiter on Snapchat icon. I wasn’t the #1 “Mercury” anymore. I wasn’t even #4 “Mars.” I had dropped to the #5 spot.
At first, it felt a little bit like a “friendship demotion.” I actually felt that tiny sting of social media jealousy! But here’s what I learned: the algorithm is purely mathematical. It doesn’t mean Sarah likes me less; it just means our frequency of interaction shifted. Seeing that orange planet snapchat icon was a wake-up call to send a few more funny memes her way. Two weeks of consistent snapping later, and I was back to being Earth. The system is fluid, and honestly, once you understand that, it becomes more of a fun game than a social stressor.
Read More: Mars on Snapchat: The 4th Orbit Explained by Martin
What Exactly is Jupiter on Snapchat?
If you are seeing Jupiter, you are looking at the 5th best friend position in the Snapchat+ Solar System. This feature is exclusive to Snapchat+ subscribers (the paid tier). In this digital cosmos, your friend is the Sun, and you are one of the eight planets orbiting them based on how much you communicate.
Why Jupiter?
Jupiter is known as the “King of Planets” because it’s the largest. In the Snapchat world, it’s represented as a gas giant icon with beautiful, swirling stripes.
- Rank: 5th closest friend.
- Visuals: An orange planet with tan and dark brown horizontal stripes.
- Meaning: You guys talk a lot, but there are four other people they interact with more frequently.
How the Ranking Works
Snapchat calculates this based on:
- Snap Frequency: How many photos and videos you send back and forth.
- Chat Volume: The number of text messages exchanged.
- Recent Activity: The algorithm favors recent interactions over stuff you did three months ago.
Martin’s Note: You can only see your own position in their solar system by tapping the “Best Friends” or “Friends” badge on their profile. You can’t go snooping around to see who their other seven planets are—Snapchat keeps that private!
Decoding the Solar System: Where Does Jupiter Fit?
To understand why you’re Jupiter, you need to see the “neighborhood.” Each planet represents a specific slot in the Top 8.
The Inner Circle (1-4)
- Mercury (#1): The ride-or-die. You’re the closest to the Sun.
- Venus (#2): Very close, but not quite the top spot.
- Earth (#3): A solid, consistent friendship.
- Mars (#4): You’re still in the “inner” group, just on the edge.
The Outer Giants (5-8)
- Jupiter (#5): This is the bridge. You’re the first of the outer planets. You’re a “Best Friend,” but you aren’t in the daily “inner circle” of snaps.
- Saturn (#6): You’ll see the rings here. Interaction is starting to dip.
- Uranus (#7): The green planet. You’re definitely drifting.
- Neptune (#8): The edge of the system. You’re still a Best Friend, but barely.
Snapchat Solar System Comparison Table
| Planet | Rank | Visual Appearance | Meaning in the Friendship |
| Mercury | #1 | Pink/Red with red hearts | Your absolute #1 Best Friend |
| Venus | #2 | Light brown with pink/blue hearts | Very close second |
| Earth | #3 | Blue/Green with a Moon | Consistent, steady connection |
| Mars | #4 | Red with purple/blue hearts | A strong, regular friendship |
| Jupiter | #5 | Orange with horizontal stripes | Solid friend, 5th in line |
| Saturn | #6 | Orange/Yellow with a gold ring | Frequent, but not top-tier |
| Uranus | #7 | Green and swirling | Lower interaction frequency |
| Neptune | #8 | Dark blue and cold | The 8th best friend |
How to Check Your Jupiter Status
“Martin, how do I even find this?” I get asked this a lot. It’s not immediately obvious if you don’t know where to look. Does this sound familiar? You click the profile and just see a gold-bordered badge?
Step-by-Step Guide:
- Open Snapchat and go to your Chat list.
- Tap the Bitmoji of the friend you’re curious about to open their Friendship Profile.
- Look for the “Best Friends” or “Friends” badge right below their name.
- Tap that badge. 5. A screen will pop up showing their Bitmoji as the Sun and your Bitmoji on a planet. If you see the gas giant icon with those iconic stripes, congrats—you’re Jupiter!
Why Is the Jupiter Icon Controversial?
I’ll be real with you—not everyone loves this feature. In fact, Snapchat actually made it “Opt-In” recently because it was causing a bit of friendship anxiety.
Honestly, this part confused me at first. Why would people be upset about a cute planet? But then I realized: for some, seeing themselves drop from Earth to Jupiter feels like a public record of a friendship cooling off. It can be a little stressful if you’re sensitive about your social standing.
Personally, I view it as a data point. If I see I’m Jupiter, and I want to be closer, I just start sending more personalized snaps. It’s a tool, not a verdict on your personality!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Does Jupiter mean we aren’t Best Friends anymore?
Not at all! You are still in their Top 8. Snapchat has thousands of users; being in the top eight is actually a pretty big deal. It just means there are four people they snap slightly more than you.
2. How can I move from Jupiter to Mercury?
Consistency is key. Send more direct snaps (not just stories!) and engage in more chat conversations. The algorithm loves two-way interaction. If you snap them and they snap back immediately, your “gravitational pull” increases.
3. Can my friend see that I’m checking my planet?
Nope! Checking your position in their solar system is private. They won’t get a notification that you’re looking at your Jupiter status.
4. What if I don’t see any planets?
Two possibilities here:
Either you or your friend don’t have Snapchat+.
The “Solar System” feature is turned off in the Snapchat+ settings (it’s off by default for many now).
Martin’s Final Tip
My biggest piece of advice? Don’t overthink the stripes. Being Jupiter on Snapchat is still a sign of a great friendship. It’s a #5 spot, which means you’re still a priority in their digital life. Social media should be fun, not a source of “orbital” stress.
If you’re feeling a bit distant from a friend, use the Jupiter icon as an excuse to reach out. Send a “Thinking of you” snap or a inside joke. You’ll be back in the inner solar system before you know it!
Would you like me to explain how the other Snapchat+ features, like Ghost Trails or Custom Notification sounds, can help you level up your profile?
