Latest news with #Bitmoji
CNET
6 days ago
- CNET
Home Safe? Snap Map Will Let Your Friends and Family Know With Alert
"Let us know when you're home." How many times have you heard that from friends or family at the end of the night, but forgotten to follow up when you get through the door? Snapchat has added a feature to its popular Snap Map that will take care of it for you. The messaging app launched a new feature on Thursday called "Home Safe," which will alert friends and/or family that you're home safely even when you forget to do so. It's ideal to let folks know when you're back from a vacation, a night out or a long drive. With location sharing already part of Snapchat's Family Center hub, the new "Home Safe" feature will also be great for parents to get alerts to know when they're kids are home in one piece. How Home Safe Works First, tap your Bitmoji on Snap Map and then "My Home" to set your home location. Then, open the chat conversation with a friend or friends who you want to alert when you get home, tap the map icon and then the "Home Safe" button. Later, when you arrive back home, your friend or friends will get a one-time alert in the chat conversation that you've made it home with no problems. Remember that alerts can only be sent to contacts with whom you are already sharing your location, and the "Home Safe" notification will only be sent once. You will need to go through the process again for future alerts. Also, remember that location sharing on Snap Map is turned off by default. In May, Snapchat announced that their user base for Snap Maps topped 400 million monthly active users. Snapchat's "Home Safe" is a welcome addition to its app, and it's one of several apps that can help make others aware that you are safe, including:
The Verge
6 days ago
- The Verge
Snapchat will notify your friends when you've made it home safe
Snapchat is launching a new Home Safe feature that makes it easier to inform your loved ones when you have arrived safely after making your way home. Building on the app's existing location capabilities, Snapchat's Home Safe allows you to send an automatic alert to chat conversations with friends to let them know you're back at home without having to remember to send direct messages. While many communications apps like Snapchat, WhatsApp, and Facebook Messenger enable you to share live location information that others can track, the Home Safe alerts mean that your friends don't need to keep checking on your progress. Snap says that the notification only goes out once and then shuts off automatically. The alerts can only be sent to friends that Snapchat users are already sharing their location with, which allows users to proactively select exactly who they want to send the Home Safe alerts to. To access the feature, users need to set their home location on Snap Map by tapping on their Bitmoji and then selecting 'My Home.' Once the location is set, users can then tap on the Map icon in their conversations and select the 'Home Safe' button when starting to make the journey back home. Alerts will then be sent out when the app registers that the user has arrived at their home destination. Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All by Jess Weatherbed Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All News Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Snapchat Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Tech
Time Business News
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Business News
What Is the Snapchat Planets Order and What Does It Mean?
Introduction: Understanding the Snapchat Planets Order Universe Snapchat is known for its ever-evolving features and playful approach to social interaction. Whether it's sending Snaps, building streaks, or sharing stories, Snapchat continuously finds creative ways to keep users hooked. One of its most recent and exciting features is the Snapchat Planets Order, a concept that gamifies your closest friendships by transforming them into a solar system. While this may sound like a strange mashup of astronomy and messaging, it's actually a smart and visual way of understanding how Snapchat ranks your best friends. If you've been scratching your head wondering what those planets orbiting Bitmoji profiles mean or how your place in the Snapchat cosmos is decided, this comprehensive guide will explain it all. In this article, you'll learn exactly what the Snapchat Planets Order is, how it works, what each planet symbolizes, and how to move closer to someone's 'Mercury' spot. By the end, you'll have a full grasp of this creative feature and how to make the most of it. Section 1: What Is the Snapchat Planets Order? Subtitle: Visualizing Friendships in a Galactic Way The Snapchat Planets Order is a unique way for Snapchat+ subscribers to view their best friends on the app through an astronomical theme. Instead of listing best friends by rank alone, Snapchat now displays your closest connections as planets, revolving around a central sun — and that sun is you. Just like in the real solar system, each planet symbolizes a different level of closeness. The closer a planet is to the sun, the stronger the bond between you and that friend. Conversely, the farther away the planet, the weaker the interaction. This feature brings a visual and interactive twist to something as simple as a best friends list. Rather than scrolling through a basic name order, you now get an animated, colorful representation of your social universe. It's no wonder the Snapchat Planets Order has quickly become a trending topic among Snapchat users worldwide. Snapchat introduced this to make relationships more personal and dynamic. With each friend represented by a planet, your profile becomes a tiny universe, with your strongest connections orbiting closest. Section 2: How the Snapchat Planets Order Works Subtitle: The Mechanics Behind the Magic To truly understand the Snapchat Planets Order, you need to know how the system ranks and assigns friends to specific planets. The idea is fairly straightforward: Snapchat tracks your interaction levels with friends and ranks them accordingly. The friend with whom you have the most interaction becomes Mercury, the closest planet to your sun. The rest fall into place based on decreasing levels of communication. Snapchat considers several metrics when determining the order of the planets: Number of Snaps exchanged Frequency of chats Video and voice calls Story views and replies Use of Bitmoji stickers and emojis How consistently you engage with the friend Here is the standard Snapchat Planets Order from most to least interactive: Mercury – #1 Best Friend 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 This makes a total of eight best friends represented as planets. The system is not static; it updates regularly depending on how much you engage with each person. This means someone on your Mars today could move up to Venus tomorrow if your interactions increase. For those aiming to be someone else's Mercury, maintaining consistent, high-quality interaction is key. The Snapchat Planets Order system is algorithmically driven but deeply personal in how it reflects social engagement. Section 3: How to Access the Snapchat Planets Order Subtitle: A Snapchat+ Exclusive Feature Before you go searching for planets in your friend list, it's important to note that the Snapchat Planets Order is only accessible through Snapchat+. This is Snapchat's premium subscription plan that offers a variety of enhanced features for a small monthly fee. Some benefits of Snapchat+ include: Friend Solar System (Snapchat Planets Order) Story rewatch count Ghost Trails Custom app icons and backgrounds Priority story replies To activate the feature and start exploring the Snapchat Planets Order, follow these steps: Open the Snapchat app and tap on your Bitmoji icon to access your profile. Tap the Snapchat+ banner or go to Settings > Snapchat+ to subscribe. Once subscribed, head to your best friend's profile. Tap on the 'Best Friends' badge near their name. You'll see a glowing solar system, where your Bitmoji appears on one of the planets. The planet you appear on reflects your current position in their social universe. And yes, you may be their Mercury while they are your Neptune relationships aren't always equally balanced. This premium feature is popular among younger Snapchat users who enjoy gamified social interaction and love knowing where they stand in someone else's hierarchy. Section 4: What Each Planet in the Order Represents Subtitle: Friendship Levels Decoded Through Planets Each planet in the Snapchat Planets Order not only symbolizes a ranking but also implies the depth and intensity of your relationship. Here's what each planet says about your Snapchat bond: Mercury : Closest companion. You Snap and chat daily, possibly multiple times a day. : Closest companion. You Snap and chat daily, possibly multiple times a day. Venus : Strong communication with regular Snaps and chats but slightly less than Mercury. : Strong communication with regular Snaps and chats but slightly less than Mercury. Earth : A well-rounded friendship. Mix of Snaps, reactions, and occasional calls. : A well-rounded friendship. Mix of Snaps, reactions, and occasional calls. Mars : Frequent interaction, but with gaps. Maybe weekends are your sweet spot. : Frequent interaction, but with gaps. Maybe weekends are your sweet spot. Jupiter : A friendly connection, more reactive than active. : A friendly connection, more reactive than active. Saturn : Occasional messages or reactions, not much daily engagement. : Occasional messages or reactions, not much daily engagement. Uranus : Infrequent chats, perhaps you're in each other's lives sporadically. : Infrequent chats, perhaps you're in each other's lives sporadically. Neptune: Almost inactive. A distant acquaintance in your Snapchat orbit. By understanding this order, you can gauge the strength of your relationships and even decide who deserves more of your digital attention. Because the Snapchat Planets Order updates in real-time, your position can change based on recent activity or inactivity. Section 5: Tips to Improve Your Snapchat Planets Ranking Subtitle: Move from Neptune to Mercury with These Tips Want to climb up the Snapchat Planets Order and become someone's top best friend? Here are actionable strategies to make your way toward Mercury: Send Daily Snaps: Even if it's just a quick selfie or a view from your day, daily Snaps keep the engagement going. Respond to Chats Quickly: Prompt responses show attention and build stronger ties. Use Stickers and Emojis: Fun elements like Bitmojis and emojis enhance conversations and are tracked by Snapchat. Make Voice or Video Calls: These add a deeper interaction layer and help strengthen your position. React to Stories Often: Showing interest in your friend's life can elevate your rank. Avoid Ghosting: A break in communication can quickly drop you several planetary levels. The more frequent and consistent your interactions, the closer you'll move toward the coveted Mercury position in someone's Snapchat Planets Order. Section 6: Common Questions and Misconceptions Subtitle: Clearing the Air About Snapchat Planets Q1: Is Snapchat Planets Order public to everyone? No. Only Snapchat+ users can view the planet order, and only when both parties are mutual best friends on the app. Q2: Can my position change overnight? Yes. Since Snapchat recalculates the rankings based on recent interactions, positions can change daily. Q3: Do the planets reflect real-life closeness? Not necessarily. The order is based on Snapchat activity — not emotional connection or real-world friendship. Q4: Can I turn this feature off? Currently, there's no toggle to hide your Snapchat Planets Order, but you can unsubscribe from Snapchat+ to disable it. Q5: Is there Pluto? No. Snapchat sticks to the 8 official planets recognized in modern astronomy. Poor Pluto remains excluded. Understanding these common questions can help you get the most out of this feature without falling for misinformation or overthinking rankings. Conclusion: Embrace the Fun of Snapchat Planets Order The Snapchat Planets Order feature offers a playful and visually rich way to view your Snapchat best friends. Instead of reading a static list, you now get to explore a miniature solar system that reflects your closest digital relationships. While some may see it as just a gimmick, others appreciate the dynamic, gamified aspect it brings to social interaction. Whether you're someone's Mercury or you're working your way up from Neptune, the feature encourages consistency, communication, and connection values that align perfectly with the spirit of Snapchat. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
TechCrunch
11-06-2025
- Business
- TechCrunch
Snapchat rolls out a new $8.99 Lens+ subscription tier
Snapchat on Wednesday announced the launch of a new Snapchat+ tier called 'Lens+.' The new tier costs $8.99 per month and, as its name suggests, is centered around giving users access to exclusive Lenses and AR experiences. In addition to giving users access to the perks unlocked with the standard $3.99 per month Snapchat+ tier, Lens+ gives users the ability to use hundreds of Lenses that let you 'play, create, and share Snaps' with others, the company says. 'We're starting with Lenses built by Snapchat and select creators, including exclusive new AI video Lenses, a brand new Bitmoji Game Lens, and more — and we'll be adding new AR experiences every week,' Snapchat explained in a blog post. A Snap spokesperson told TechCrunch in an email that the company won't be gating any Lenses that have previously been available for free. In the coming months, select Lens creators will be able to monetize exclusive Lenses, the company says. This means that creators will be able to unlock a new way to grow their earnings on the platform. Snapchat did not share any details about what the revenue split will look like for creators. Launched in 2022, Snapchat+ has over 14 million paid subscribers. The social network has attributed the paid subscription tier as a big driver of revenue growth. In April, Snap reported first-quarter revenue of $1.36 billion, a 14% year-over-year increase. The company said at the time that the uptick was driven by the growth of its Snapchat+ subscription service, along with progress that it had made with its advertising solutions. By launching another subscription tier, Snap is looking to grow its revenue even more by locking its more advanced Lenses and AR experiences behind a paywall. Of course, not everyone will want to pay to access these features. It's worth noting that Snapchat also offers a $14.99 per month Platinum Snapchat+ tier that gets rid of ads, and gives you access to all of the perks in the standard Snapchat+ and Lens+ tiers.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Yahoo
Snap launches Lens Studio iOS and web apps for creating AR Lenses with AI and simple tools
Snap has launched a stand-alone Lens Studio iOS app and web tool, the company announced on Wednesday. The new tools are designed to make it easier for anyone to create AR Lenses through text prompts and simple editing tools. With the Lens Studio app, users will be able to do things like generate their own AI effects, add their Bitmoji, and browse trending templates to create customized Lenses. Up until now, Lens Studio has only been accessible via a desktop application for professional developers. While the desktop application will remain the primary tool for professionals, Snap says that the new iOS app and web tool are designed to allow people at all skill levels to create Lenses. "These are experimental new tools that make it easier than ever to create, publish, and play with Snapchat Lenses made by you," Snap wrote in a blog post. "Now, you can generate your own AI effects, add your dancing Bitmoji to the fun, and express yourself with Lenses that reflect your mood or an inside joke — whether you're on the go or near your computer." While Snap currently has an ecosystem of over 400,000 professional AR developers, the company is looking to attract more people who are interested in creating Lenses with the launch of these simpler tools. Snap is considered a leader in AR thanks to its early adoption of the technology through its AR filters and Lenses, and it's clear the company is committed to investing in the space, even as others may be retracting from it. Last year, Meta angered creators after it decided to shut down its Spark AR platform, which allowed third parties to build augmented reality (AR) effects. By opening up access to AR creation, Snap is doubling down on its vision for the technology. As Snap is bringing AR creation into the hands of more people, the company is also rolling out advanced tools for professionals. Yesterday, Snap released new Lens Studio tools that AR creators and developers can use to build Bitmoji games. The tools include a turn-based system to enable back-and-forth gameplay, a new customizable Character Controller that supports different gameplay styles, and more. This article originally appeared on TechCrunch at Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
