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-k2ik1TdKPg.png "Snapchat's Friend Solar System")
Snapchat is making changes to its "Friend Solar System" feature following concerns it contributed to teenage anxiety.
The feature, available only to paying subscribers of Snapchat+, assigns users a position within a friend's virtual solar system, with planets closer to the sun representing more frequent communication.
This ranking system sparked anxieties for some users who discovered they weren't as close to certain friends as they believed.
"We've heard and understand that the Solar System can make that feeling worse, and we want to avoid that," Snapchat stated in a newsroom post.
Instead of removing the feature entirely, Snapchat is turning it off by default. Users who value the ranking system can still choose to activate it within the app's settings.
However, Snapchat claims less than 0.25% of its user base utilizes the feature.
The controversy surrounding "Friend Solar System" is not the first time Snapchat has faced criticism for features impacting mental health.
The app's "Streaks" feature, designed to encourage daily interaction, has been criticized for its addictive qualities. In response to user concerns, Snapchat introduced the ability to pause or restore streaks.
