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Do you have to be friends with someone on Snapchat to be in a group chat?

Do you have to be friends with someone on Snapchat to be in a group chat?

Snapchat is one of the most popular social media apps, especially among younger users. One of Snapchat’s key features is the ability to create group chats with your friends to share photos, videos, and messages. But what are the requirements around group chats on Snapchat? Do you need to be friends with someone on Snapchat before you can add them to a group?

The Short Answer

No, you do not need to be friends with someone on Snapchat in order to add them to a Snapchat group chat. While you do need to know a user’s Snapchat username in order to add them, there is no requirement that you have an existing one-on-one friendship connection on Snapchat first.

Adding Friends and Non-Friends to Groups

When creating a new Snapchat group chat, you have the option to add friends from your Snapchat friends list as well as enter the usernames of non-friends you want to include. This makes it easy to add acquaintances, co-workers, classmates and others you may not be officially friends with but still want to group chat with.

As long as you know someone’s exact Snapchat username, you can add them to a group even if they are not on your friends list or you’ve never connected with them before. Of course, they will have to accept the invitation to join the group, but not having an existing friendship on Snapchat does not prevent you from adding them in the first place.

Do Group Members See Your Friend List?

No, joining a Snapchat group does not automatically give members access to view your friends list or see who else is in your friend network. Your one-on-one Snapchat friends remain private even when chatting in groups.

The only Snapchat friends that group members can see are the ones you have specifically added to that particular group chat. Snapchat keeps group chats separate from your main friends list and contacts. The only way for a group member to view your friend list is if you manually share it with them.

Making Group Chats with Strangers

Snapchat also makes it possible to join public group chats full of random strangers if you so choose. There are several ways to find open groups looking for new members:

  • Searching hashtag terms like #groupsnapchat or #snapgroupchat
  • Joining forums or websites focused on Snapchat groups
  • Getting invite links from existing members of a public group

By using these methods, you can join public Snapchat crews, chat rooms, fan groups and other open communities full of people you don’t know. Since these groups are public, you don’t need any friend connections to participate.

Creating Private Groups

While open groups with strangers are easy to find, Snapchat also gives you full control to make private groups. This allows you to carefully pick who is included. Some things to keep in mind when making a private group:

  • Only add people you know and trust since everything shared will be visible to the entire group
  • Set clear rules and expectations for what is appropriate to share in the group
  • Be selective about who you invite since you cannot remove members once they’ve joined

Private groups are great for close friends, family members or specific clubs and organizations. Unlike public groups, private groups require your invitation and approval for someone to join.

Group Size Limit

Snapchat currently allows 2-32 people total in a group chat (including yourself). If you already have 32 members, you will not be able to add anyone else until current members leave the chat first. However, there is no limit on how many total groups you can be part of or create.

Speaking Privately Within Groups

Even when chatting in a group, you can still message individual members privately. There are a couple ways to have one-on-one conversations within a group:

  • Tap and hold on a user’s name, then select “Private Chat” to start a separate DM thread with just them
  • Use Snapchat’s ghost icon to switch any message to private mode before sending it

This allows you to have private side conversations without leaving the group chat. Just remember that private messages will only be seen by you and the intended recipient, separate from the group conversation.

Leaving Groups

Want to exit a Snapchat group? Leaving is easy – simply tap and hold on the group in your Chat screen, then select “Leave Group.” You can also leave via the Group Settings menu. The group will disappear from your chat list and you won’t receive any further messages.

However, you cannot remove yourself fully from the group’s conversation history. Anything you posted prior to leaving will remain visible to existing members. Also note that you can’t rejoin a group after exiting unless invited back by another member.

Deleting Groups

Only the original group creator has the ability to fully delete a Snapchat group. When they delete a group, it’s permanently erased and removed for all members. To delete a group as the creator, tap and hold on the group chat, then choose “Delete.”

Group members cannot delete groups themselves – they can only leave. So if you want a group gone for good, you’ll need to have the creator do it. Also note that any conversation history is deleted when a group is erased.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, Snapchat makes it incredibly easy to bring both friends and non-friends together in group chats. You don’t need any existing friendship or connection on Snapchat to add someone to a group. All you need is their username. This makes it simple to group chat with your closest besties, but also coworkers, fellow students, online connections and even total strangers.

So go ahead – build that perfect squad, bring together your sports team, create a chat with friends and others across the country. With Snapchat groups, you have the flexibility to make chats as private or public as you want. Just remember to follow basic etiquette and respect other members to keep your chats productive and fun!

Question Answer
Do you have to be friends on Snapchat to be in a group chat? No
Can you add non-friends to a Snapchat group? Yes
Do group members see your friends list? No
Is there a size limit for groups? Yes, 2-32 members
Can you have private conversations within groups? Yes
Can any member delete a group? No, only the original creator

Frequently Asked Additional Questions

How do you add friends to a Snapchat group?

Adding friends to a Snapchat group is easy! First, create your new group chat via the Chat section of Snapchat. Once in the “New Group” screen, you can select friends to add from your My Friends list. Simply tap all the friends you want to include in the group and they will be added.

Can you have a Snapchat group with only 2 people?

Yes, Snapchat allows groups with as few as 2 people, up to a maximum of 32 people total. So if you just want an intimate double chat, or a large party-sized group, Snapchat can accommodate.

Does Snapchat notify users when you add them to a group?

Yes, when you add someone new to an existing Snapchat group, it will send them a notification inviting them to join. They’ll see a preview of the group’s chat history and then have the choice to either join the group or decline the invite.

Can you mute Snapchat group notifications?

Definitely! If a Snapchat group is getting noisy, you can mute notifications so you’re not constantly notified of new messages. On Android, press and hold on the group chat, then select “Mute.” On iOS, tap the group name, tap again to go to Group Settings, and toggle “Mute Notifications” on.

Do Snapchat group chats disappear?

Snapchat group chats remain until either the creator deletes the group or it is auto-deleted after 24 hours of inactivity. As long as members are actively chatting, sending Snaps, etc. the group will stay. But if no one engages for 24 hours, the chat will be removed.

Can you recover a deleted Snapchat group?

Unfortunately no, there is no way to retrieve a deleted Snapchat group. When the creator deletes a group, it’s gone for good along with the entire chat history. However, Snapchat will notify you before permanently deleting an inactive group, giving you a chance to save it.

How do you find Snapchat groups to join?

There are a few ways to find public Snapchat groups you can join: search relevant hashtags like #snapgroup or #snapchatgroup to see groups looking for members, visit forums and websites focused on Snapchat groups, or get invite links directly from current members of public groups you want to join.

Can you have multiple Snapchat group chats with the same people?

Definitely! You can create different Snapchat groups with overlapping members. For example, you may have one group for family, one for college friends, and one for your basketball team – these groups can share many of the same people but have different purposes.

How do you video chat in Snapchat groups?

Snapchat’s group video chat feature allows you to chat face-to-face with up to 16 friends at once. To start a group video call, go to your Snapchat camera, tap the video icon in the top right, then select all the friends you want to include.

Can you change the admin of a Snapchat group?

No, once a Snapchat group is created, the admin/creator cannot be changed. Only the original creator has administrative powers like adding members, changing settings, and deleting the group. Regular members do not have these capabilities.

How do you know if someone took a screenshot in a Snapchat group?

Snapchat will notify you if someone takes a screenshot while in a group. An icon showing which group member took the screenshot will appear. However, Snapchat only notifies you if someone screenshots your individual Snaps sent within the group, not messages.

Can you search for old messages in Snapchat groups?

Unfortunately, there is no native search function for old Snapchat group messages. Since Snapchat regularly deletes old chats, your ability to find past messages is limited. However, some third-party apps claim to allow Snapchat searching and backups.

Why can’t I add someone to my Snapchat group?

If you’re unable to add a friend to your Snapchat group, there are a few possible reasons: you’ve reached the 32 person limit, that user has you blocked, their settings don’t allow group chats, or their account is temporarily locked. If none of those apply, try closing and reopening the app.

Can you make a Snapchat group on desktop?

Snapchat itself is a mobile app without a desktop version. However, there are some third-party services like Bluestacks that allow you to emulate Snapchat on a desktop. Through those you may be able to create groups, but with limited functionality compared to mobile.

How do you delete a message from a Snapchat group?

Unfortunately, there is no way to delete a message once it’s been sent in a Snapchat group, even as the admin. The best option is to immediately ask all members not to open it. However, if it’s already been viewed, there is no deleting it.