Snapchat has recently come under scrutiny for its Solar System feature, which has been causing anxiety among teens. The feature, available only to Snapchat+ subscribers, represents the communication frequency between users and their friends, with each friend depicted as a planet orbiting around the user’s Bitmoji avatar, symbolizing the user as the Sun. Despite not involving numerical rankings and being invisible to others, the feature has raised concerns about its potential negative impact on users.
In response to these concerns, Snapchat has announced adjustments to the Solar System feature. The company stated, “We’ve heard and understand that the Solar System can make that feeling worse, and we want to avoid that.” While the feature has received positive feedback from some subscribers, Snapchat acknowledges the need to address the potential negative effects it may have on users.
As a result, Snapchat will now turn off the Solar System feature by default. Subscribers who wish to access friendship insights can choose to activate it, while those who prefer not to engage with it will not see it at all. The company hopes that this adjustment will strike the right balance between providing a desired feature for some users while respecting the preferences of others.
Snapchat emphasizes its commitment to evaluating features thoroughly and continuously seeking ways to improve them for the community. The company aims to mitigate any potential negative effects of online communication and contribute positively to the broader societal conversation regarding the impact of smartphone technology.