Snapchat Disables Solar System Feature That Was Causing Anxiety Among Teens; Know Why

Solar System, a Snapchat+ feature was pulled off the $3.99/per month subscription platform by parent Snap Inc. The feature reportedly was creating anxiety amongst its teenage users. The social media giant removed the feature that displayed friends of Snap users in a ranking system depicting the solar system with each planet signifying how close or distant they are per their frequency of conversations and snaps. The report by Wall Street Journal revealed how it was fueling distress among the app’s young users who paid for the premium version of Snap. Responding to the report, Snap released a statement that the company is going to turn off the feature by default for the users. However, it is still available for more inquisitive users who want to see more friendship based insights.

“Ranking is never good for anyone’s head.” Snapchat’s friend solar system causes jealousy and hurt feelings for teens. @juliejargon reports on the drama around the app’s premium subscription perk. https://t.co/O2iWjXQph1 https://t.co/O2iWjXQph1
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) April 6, 2024

New: Snap is turning off its paid friend-ranking feature, known as “Solar System,” by default, citing concerns about its impact on the wellbeing of users.

The Information was the first to report on the feature’s mental health impacts in January.https://t.co/hbO1yB6p7g
— Erin Woo (@erinkwoo) April 7, 2024

Snapchat turns off controversial ‘Solar System’ feature by default after bad press https://t.co/jw7yvEEwRr
— TechCrunch (@TechCrunch) April 5, 2024

Further the company also made some adjustments to the Best Friends and Streaks feature by making it “easier to restore lost streaks.”

Social media and anxiety amongst teens is a complicated concoction with even relatively older studies claiming a surge in depression and suicidal thoughts amongst the younger age group, especially girls. A curated study dating back to 2017 by Harvard cites social media instigating sleeplessness, loneliness and worry amongst teenagers. Per another report, between 2007 and 2015, there was an uptick of suicide rate amongst male teen by 31 percent, while for female teen it hit a 40-year high. Another paper states that the perception of the generally correlated link between social media consumption and depression has a poor data quality. It further remarks that some research might indicate that “specific social media interactions” are responsible for impairment of young people’s mental health.