Hey there! I’m Martin. If you’re like me, you probably spend a little too much time checking your Snap scores and wondering why that gold ring suddenly appeared around your bestie’s profile.
The other day, I was grabbing a latte with my cousin, and she was practically spiraling because she’d dropped from “Mercury” to “Venus” in her boyfriend’s Snapchat Solar System. She looked at me like I was a NASA scientist and asked, “Martin, what does the red planet even mean?”
It hit me then—while Snapchat makes these features look like cute emojis, they actually represent a whole hierarchy of how we talk to each other. So, let’s break down the “Mercury on Snapchat” mystery over a virtual coffee. No jargon, just the real deal.
My Personal Experience with Mercury on Snapchat
I’ll be honest: I’m a bit of a data nerd. When Snapchat+ first dropped the Friend Solar System feature, I immediately subscribed. I wanted to see who my “Mercury” was. At the time, I assumed it would be my roommate because we send each other memes literally every hour.
I opened his profile, tapped the “Best Friends” badge, and there it was: a red planet with red hearts. Mercury. I felt a weird sense of digital accomplishment. But here’s where it gets interesting—and a little humbling.
Two weeks later, I checked again. I was no longer Mercury; I had drifted out to Earth (the #3 spot). Why? Because I’d started a massive 50-day streak with a buddy from my hiking group, and we were sending high-def trail snaps daily.
What I learned: The system is incredibly sensitive. It doesn’t care about your “history” or how long you’ve been friends in real life. It only cares about the now. If you stop snapping for even a few days, your planetary orbit starts to shift. It’s a living, breathing map of your current social energy.
Read More: Why Snapchat planets public profile Aren’t Showing
What is Mercury on Snapchat? The Deep Dive
If you’ve seen a red planet next to a friend’s name (specifically a small, reddish globe surrounded by red hearts), you’ve found Mercury. In the world of Snapchat+, you are the Sun, and your top eight friends are the planets orbiting you.
The Meaning of the #1 Friend Rank
Mercury is the planet closest to the Sun in real life, and it works the exact same way on the app. If someone is your Mercury, they are your #1 Best Friend.
This isn’t just a random label. To hit this rank, you and this person must:
- Exchange the most Snaps (photos and videos) compared to anyone else.
- Have the highest frequency of Chat messages.
- Maintain active interactions—usually daily.
Why the Red Hearts Matter
You’ll notice that Mercury is often paired with red hearts. In Snap-speak, red hearts (the BFF emoji) mean you’ve been each other’s #1 Best Friend for at least two weeks straight. Seeing the Mercury planet and those hearts is the ultimate “ride-or-die” signal on the platform.
How the Snapchat Solar System Works
The Snapchat+ meaning behind these planets can be a bit confusing if you don’t remember your middle school science. Essentially, the closer the planet is to the Sun (you), the higher that friend ranks on your Best Friends list.
The Planetary Order of Friendship
Here is exactly how the ranks break down from #1 to #8:
| Planet | Rank | Visual Cue | What it Means |
| Mercury | #1 | Red planet + Red hearts | Your absolute best friend. |
| Venus | #2 | Beige/Yellow + Pink/Yellow/Blue hearts | Very close, but just missed the top spot. |
| Earth | #3 | Blue & Green + Moon & Red hearts | Solid member of the inner circle. |
| Mars | #4 | Red planet + Stars & Blue/Purple hearts | Frequent interaction, but losing heat. |
| Jupiter | #5 | Orange with stripes | You talk often, but maybe not every day. |
| Saturn | #6 | Yellow with rings | In the top 8, but on the outer edge. |
| Uranus | #7 | Greenish-blue | Occasional snapping/chatting. |
| Neptune | #8 | Dark Blue | You’re still “besties,” but barely. |
How to Check Your Rank in Someone Else’s Orbit
One of the biggest questions I get is, “Martin, can I see where I stand for them?”
The answer is yes, but only if you both have Snapchat+.
- Open their Profile: Tap on their Bitmoji to go to their Friendship Profile.
- Look for the Badge: If you are in their Top 8, you’ll see a “Best Friends” or “Friends” badge with a gold ring.
- Tap the Badge: A pop-up will appear showing your Bitmoji sitting on a planet.
- Identify the Planet: If you see yourself on that red planet with red hearts, congrats—you are their Mercury!
Martin’s Note: If you see a “Friends” badge instead of “Best Friends,” it means you are in their Top 8, but they aren’t in yours. Awkward? Maybe. Human? Definitely.
Why Did My Rank Change? (The “Orbit” Frustration)
Ever woken up to find you’ve been demoted to Venus? Trust me, I’ve been there. It feels like a tiny digital sting. Usually, this happens for one of three reasons:
- The “New Friend” Surge: Your friend started a heavy streak with someone else. Since the rank is based on volume of interaction, that new person might have just out-snapped you.
- The Chat Lag: You might be sending Snaps, but are you chatting? Texting inside the app counts toward the algorithm too.
- The 24-Hour Reset: The algorithm updates constantly. One slow Tuesday can knock you off the Mercury throne.
Does this sound familiar? It’s basically a popularity contest run by an AI, but hey, it keeps the streaks alive!
FAQ: Your Burning Snapchat Questions
1. Is the “Red Planet” always Mercury?
Actually, this is a common mix-up! Both Mercury and Mars are red in the app. However, Mercury has red hearts around it, while Mars is usually surrounded by stars and purple/blue hearts. If you see the hearts, you’re at the #1 spot.
2. Can my friends see my Solar System?
Nope! Your Solar System is private to you. They can only see their own position in your orbit if they have Snapchat+, and even then, they can’t see who else is on your list.
3. How do I get Mercury back if I lost it?
Start Snapping! Send more photos, videos, and actually use the Chat feature. The algorithm prioritizes recent, high-volume interaction.
4. Does a long Snapstreak guarantee the Mercury rank?
Not necessarily. You could have a 500-day streak where you only send one snap a day, but if your friend is sending 50 snaps a day to someone else, that other person will take the Mercury spot.
Martin’s Final Tip: Don’t Overthink the Orbit
At the end of the day, Mercury on Snapchat is just a fun way to see who you’re talking to the most. Don’t let a “demotion” to Venus or Earth ruin your day. Technology is great for tracking data, but it’s terrible at measuring the actual quality of a friendship.
My advice? Use the feature to see who you might have accidentally ghosted lately. If your best friend has drifted out to Saturn, maybe it’s time to send a real text—or better yet, grab a coffee in person.
What do you think? Are you a Snapchat+ addict, or do you think the Solar System is a bit too much “high school drama”? Let me know in the comments!
Would you like me to explain how to customize your Snapchat app icons next?
