Hey there! If you’ve ever opened Snapchat and wondered where your “Mercury” or “Venus” status went, you aren’t alone. Just the other day, I was grabbing a latte with a friend who was genuinely stressed because she couldn’t see her ranking in her boyfriend’s “Solar System” anymore. She thought they’d been demoted to regular friends!
I had to put down my coffee and explain that the Snapchat Planets Opt-in update wasn’t a glitch—it was a deliberate move by Snap Inc. to protect our collective sanity. As a self-proclaimed Snapchat Power User, I’ve seen this app go through a million phases, but the shift between 2024 and 2026 regarding the “Solar System” is one of the most significant “vibe checks” the platform has ever performed.
My Personal Experience with the Solar System Update
I remember exactly when the solar system update hit my account. It was a Tuesday evening in early 2024. I’m a Snapchat+ subscriber (mostly for the custom icons, let’s be honest), and I used to check my planetary rankings like a daily horoscope.
One night, I noticed my best friend of ten years—who is usually my “Mercury”—was suddenly just a regular Bitmoji profile. No planet. No gold ring. I’ll be honest: my heart actually sank for a second. Did he stop snapping me? Did I do something? I spent twenty minutes digging through my enable planets settings only to realize that Snapchat had flipped the switch.
They didn’t delete the feature; they just tucked it away. I had to manually go back in and tell the app, “Yes, I want to see this data.” Once I toggled it back on, my “Mercury” returned, and my blood pressure went back to normal. That moment taught me two things: first, that I’m way too invested in digital orbits, and second, that Snapchat was finally listening to the “social anxiety” feedback we’d all been whispering about.
Read More: How to Remove Yourself From Friend Solar System on Snapchat
Why the Change? The Deep Dive into Snapchat Planets Opt-in
So, why the sudden change? Why make us work for a feature we’re paying for? Between 2024 and 2026, Snapchat faced a mountain of criticism regarding the psychological impact of friend rankings.
The Anxiety Factor
Let’s talk real for a second. Being someone’s “Neptune” (the 8th friend) when they are your “Mercury” (the 1st friend) feels like a digital slap in the face. Research and user feedback highlighted that this visual hierarchy was causing genuine distress, especially among younger users. By moving to a Snapchat Planets Opt-in model, Snap put the “emotional guardrails” back in the hands of the users.
Privacy Changes and User Control
In 2025, the conversation around privacy changes evolved from “who can see my data” to “how does this data make me feel.” Snapchat realized that for a large portion of their community (reportedly over 99.75% of non-subscribers and many paid ones), the solar system was more of a “stress system.” Making it “disabled by default” ensures that you only see your social rank if you are mentally prepared for the answer.
How the Planets Rank Your Friendships
If you do choose to opt-in, it’s helpful to know what you’re looking at. The system uses your interaction data—snaps sent, chats exchanged, and story views—to place you in an orbit.
| Planet | Rank | Closeness Meaning |
| Mercury | #1 | Your absolute Bestie. The most interaction. |
| Venus | #2 | Extremely close; you’re likely chatting daily. |
| Earth | #3 | A solid, top-tier friendship. |
| Mars | #4 | Great friend, frequent interaction. |
| Jupiter | #5 | Consistent contact, but not “inner circle.” |
| Saturn | #6 | Frequent enough to stay in the top 8. |
| Uranus | #7 | You connect often, but it’s sporadic. |
| Neptune | #8 | The edge of your Best Friends list. |
How to Enable Planets Settings in 2026
If you’ve decided you’re ready to see where the stars align, enabling the feature is straightforward. I’ve had to do this on both my iPhone and my backup Android, and the process is identical.
- Open your Profile: Tap your Bitmoji in the top-left corner.
- Access Snapchat+: You’ll see a gold banner or a menu item for Snapchat+. Tap it.
- Find the Solar System: Scroll down until you see the Solar System toggle.
- Toggle it ON: You’ll likely see a small pop-up asking if you’re sure. Tap “OK.”
- Check a Friend: Go to a friend’s profile. If you are in each other’s top 8, you’ll see the “Best Friends” badge. Tap it to see your planet!
Martin’s Note: If you don’t see the badge even after enabling the settings, it usually means you aren’t in their top 8, or they haven’t shared their Bitmoji. It’s a two-way street!
The Controversy: Why It Stayed “Opt-In” Through 2026
You might wonder why they didn’t just delete it entirely. Honestly, I think it’s because a small group of us really likes the gamification. As of 2026, Snapchat has kept the feature but enhanced the transparency.
They’ve added more “contextual clues.” For example, if you drop from Venus to Mars, the app doesn’t send a notification (thank god), but the shift is more gradual now, based on a rolling average of interaction rather than a sudden daily swap. This “softening” of the algorithm, combined with the Snapchat Planets Opt-in requirement, has cooled the controversy significantly.
FAQ: Everything You’re Asking on Reddit
Q: Why can’t I see my planet even though I have Snapchat+?
A: Most likely, you haven’t enabled it in your settings yet! Check the Snapchat+ management page and make sure the “Solar System” toggle is green. Also, remember you must be in your friend’s top 8 Best Friends for the badge to appear.
Q: Did Snapchat remove the planets feature in 2024?
A: Not removed, just “hidden.” Due to concerns about teen anxiety and social pressure, they turned it off by default. You have to proactively enable planets settings now.
Q: Can my friends see what planet I am in their solar system?
A: No. The Solar System is a private view. You can see your position in their orbit by tapping the badge on their profile, but they can’t see your entire list of 8 planets unless you show them your phone.
Q: Is the solar system update available for free users?
A: Nope. This remains an exclusive perk for Snapchat+ subscribers. If you aren’t paying the monthly fee, you won’t see any planets, opt-in or not.
Q: Does being “Neptune” mean we aren’t friends?
A: Definitely not! It just means that, statistically, there are 7 other people they interact with more on the app. They might still be your real-life BFF!
Martin’s Final Tip
My best advice? Use the Snapchat Planets Opt-in feature for fun, but don’t let it define your relationships. I’ve had seasons where my mom was my “Mercury” because we were planning a family trip, and seasons where she wasn’t even on the list. It’s just data, not a heart-meter.
If you find yourself checking the orbits every hour and feeling a pit in your stomach, do yourself a favor: turn it back off. There’s no shame in protecting your peace!
Would you like me to walk you through the other exclusive Snapchat+ features available this year?
