Snapchat is a popular social media app that allows users to send photos, videos, text, and more to their friends. One of the key features of Snapchat is that the content you send disappears after it’s opened by the recipient. This makes Snapchat feel more casual and intimate since nothing is permanently stored. But you may be wondering – can someone who isn’t your friend on Snapchat still send you messages?
Conclusion
In summary, it is possible for Snapchat users who are not friends to still chat in a few cases:
- If you have your settings set to allow anyone to contact you.
- If they know your username and send you a chat request that you accept.
- If you’ve interacted before by replying to their Snapchat story.
- If they’re in your phone’s contacts and Snapchat connects you automatically.
However, the default setting is for only friends to communicate. So if you wish to only chat with friends, be sure your settings reflect that. You can also unfriend or block any non-friends contacting you. While Snapchat promotes fun, casual chatting, you’re still in control over who you interact with.
Can Snapchat users chat if they aren’t friends?
The default setting on Snapchat is that users can only chat with friends on their friends list. So normally, you can only send Snaps back and forth to users who you are connected with as friends.
However, there are a few exceptions where non-friends can still communicate:
Anyone Can Contact You Setting
Under your Snapchat settings, you can choose to allow “Anyone” to contact you. This opens up your inbox to receive content from any other Snapchat user, even strangers.
Pros: You can communicate with a wider network and make new connections more easily.
Cons: You may receive unwanted content from strangers. Privacy is reduced.
Accepting Chat Requests
If another user knows your Snapchat username, they can send you a chat request. Even though they aren’t in your friends list, you’ll be notified of their request. You can then choose to accept it, which opens up chatting.
Pros: Lets you connect 1-on-1 with new friends if you want.
Cons: Can receive requests from strangers you don’t know.
Interacting With Their Story
If you reply to someone’s public Snapchat story, even if you aren’t friends, a chat window is created where you can message each other.
Pros: Easy way to start chatting with interesting new people.
Cons: Some users you interact with may not actually be people you want to chat more deeply with.
Same Phone Contacts
If someone in your phone’s contacts list also has Snapchat, you may be auto-connected as friends on Snapchat. You can then chat even if you didn’t directly add them as a friend within Snapchat.
Pros: Connects you with people you likely know outside the app.
Cons: None really, since it’s people in your contacts already.
How to Stop Non-Friends From Messaging You on Snapchat
If you are receiving messages from Snapchat users you don’t know and want to limit chatting only to friends, there are a few steps you can take:
Change Settings to “My Friends” Only
In your Snapchat settings, find the “Who Can” section and change “Contact Me” to “My Friends.” This will prevent non-friends from sending you chat requests.
Unfriend or Block Accounts
If you’re receiving unwanted Snaps from someone, you can unfriend or block them. This stops them from viewing your stories or sending you any more messages.
Avoid Interacting With Stranger’s Stories
Don’t reply to public stories from accounts you don’t know. This opens up a chat window which they can then use to reach you.
Disable Auto Friend Suggestions
Turn off auto friend suggestions based on your contacts. This prevents random contacts getting access to messaging you unless you explicitly approve a friend request.
Receiving Snaps vs Chatting
It’s important to note the difference between receiving a Snap and having a real back-and-forth chat on Snapchat:
Receiving Snaps
Anyone can send a Snap to your account, even if you’re not friends. You’ll be notified you received something, but will have to accept the friend request first before you can view the Snap’s content.
Chatting
Only friends can engage in ongoing chatting via the chat feature. This allows sending text, photos, videos, and more in an ongoing conversation.
So while anyone can technically “Snap” you, only friends can fully chat and interact in an ongoing way.
Do Both Users Need to Add Each Other to Chat?
No, only one user needs to add the other as a friend on Snapchat to begin chatting. The friend request just has to be accepted by the other user.
For example:
- John adds Sally on Snapchat
- Sally receives the request and accepts it
- Now John and Sally can chat as friends
Sally didn’t need to manually add John first before he could add her. The friend request can come from one side, and just needs to be accepted by the other.
Conclusion
While Snapchat is designed around sharing experiences with your circle of friends, there are a few exceptions where you can communicate with users who aren’t friends yet. However, the default experience focuses on chatting with friends only.
To have full, interactive chats and share your life with someone on Snapchat, you both need to be connected as friends. There are settings, interactions, and requests that provide some flexibility here, but in general, friending first is required for true chatting and sharing.
The safety and intimacy of Snapchat comes from sharing your authentic life moments with real friends. Take advantage of the platform’s options to control who you chat with if needed. But the real power comes from the trusted connections you intentionally form and mutually nurture with your closest social circles.