Snapchat Plus is a new paid subscription service that Snapchat introduced in June 2022. It offers some exclusive features not available to regular Snapchat users, including the ability to pin one friend as your “BFF” so they stay at the top of your chat list. But does pinning your best friend on Snapchat Plus keep them pinned permanently, or can their status change over time?
What is Snapchat Plus?
Snapchat Plus is a $3.99 per month subscription that gives users access to exclusive features like:
- Pinning one friend as your #1 BFF so they stay at the top of your chat list
- Seeing your orbit (who you interact with the most)
- Seeing your friend’s orbits
- Snapchat icon changing to reflect your status
- Replaying Snaps unlimited times
- Priority support
The ability to pin one friend as your “BFF” is one of the main features that differentiates Snapchat Plus from the regular app. When you pin someone as your #1 BFF, their chat stays pinned to the top of your list so you always see them first. This makes it easy to quickly access your conversations with your best friend.
Does your pinned BFF stay permanent?
When you first pin someone as your #1 best friend on Snapchat Plus, they will remain pinned to the top of your chat list until you manually unpin them. But over time, if you interact less frequently with that pinned friend, their status can change and they may get replaced by someone else you interact with more regularly.
Snapchat’s algorithm looks at your overall chatting behavior and determines your “best friends” – the people you engage with the most consistently. Snapchat Plus allows you to override the algorithm by manually pinning one specific person to the top spot. However, your natural interactions over time can still impact their status.
For example, let’s say you initially pin your childhood best friend as your #1 when signing up for Snapchat Plus. Over the next few weeks, you start messaging one of your coworkers on Snapchat much more frequently. Even though your childhood friend is still pinned, your coworker may organically become your new #1 best friend based on your actual interactions.
In this case, your coworker’s chat may get pushed to the top spot below your pinned friend. So essentially, the #1 pinned spot locks someone in place temporarily, but your interactions can still change the rest of your chat hierarchy.
Does sending fewer snaps impact your best friend status?
Yes, if you communicate less with your pinned #1 best friend over time, it can impact their status and cause them to be replaced by someone else you interact with more. The Snapchat algorithm pays close attention to the frequency of your Snaps sent back and forth when ranking best friends.
Let’s say your pinned bestie was your go-to Snapchat pal for a while, but now you’ve gotten busy and don’t have as much time to chat. Meanwhile, you started messaging with a new friend every day. Even if that old bestie is still pinned, Snapchat will notice the shift in interactions and your new friend may organically take over the #1 spot based on your actual Snapping activity.
Can someone else become your #1 best friend while you have someone pinned?
Yes, it’s possible for someone to become your new #1 best friend organically if you start talking to them way more than your pinned friend. You’ll be able to tell when this happens because their chat will get bumped up to the #2 spot below your pinned BFF.
Again, the pinning feature allows you to force someone to stay at the top of your chat list, but it doesn’t completely override the algorithm if your interactions no longer align with them being your most snapped friend. The pinned spot buys them some time at #1, but it’s not a lifelong guarantee.
How often do you need to snap your pinned BFF to keep them pinned?
There is no definitive threshold for how often you need to snap your pinned #1 friend to keep them locked into that top spot. The algorithm looks at your entire pattern of interactions with all friends rather than just 1:1.
That said, if you want your pinned pal to maintain true #1 status, aim to snap them frequently and consistently, ideally multiple times per week if not per day. The more you actually keep them as your go-to #1 chat, the less likely the algorithm will be to replace them based on your other interactions.
Can your best friends see that you pinned someone else?
No, the ability to pin a #1 best friend is a private Snapchat Plus feature that is not visible to your other friends. When you pin someone as your BFF, it does not notify any of your other Snapchat contacts or indicate to them that they are no longer your #1.
The pinned status only impacts your own chat hierarchy view. Your pinned friend will remain at the top of your list, but none of your other friends will know that you manually pinned that person as your #1 BFF.
If you unpin your #1 friend, will they be notified?
No, if you unpin your previously pinned #1 best friend, they will not receive any notification about the change in their status. The pinning feature is completely behind the scenes and private to your account.
Your former #1 pinned friend will simply revert back to wherever they fall in your chat hierarchy based on your recent interactions. You can re-pin them at any time if you want them to return to the top spot of your BFF list.
Can you pin a new #1 best friend if your pinned one stops snapping you?
Yes, one of the benefits of Snapchat Plus is that you can change your pinned #1 best friend at any time. So if your current pinned pal stops actively snapping you, you can simply unpin them and replace them with someone new.
Just go into your Snapchat Plus settings and tap on “Pinned #1 BFF” to choose a different friend to pin. There’s no limit to how often you can change your pinned best friend.
Will Snapchat notify you if your pinned friend is no longer #1?
Unfortunately, no – Snapchat will not send you any alert if your pinned friend gets organically replaced by someone else as your new #1 based on your interactions. The only way to tell will be keeping an eye on your chat list.
If you see someone consistently taking the #2 spot below your pinned friend, that likely means they have become your actual #1 bestie based on your recent Snaps, even if your old pal remains pinned in the top position.
Can you pin someone who is inactive or rarely snaps you?
Yes, Snapchat Plus allows you to pin any friend as your #1 best friend, even if they are inactive or rarely snap you back. However, pinning an inactive friend will likely result in them getting replaced rather quickly.
If you want your pinned friend to maintain that #1 spot for longer, make sure to choose someone who actively engages with your Snaps on a regular basis. Pinning someone who doesn’t open or respond often probably won’t stop your top active friends from taking priority.
Does sending chats count toward best friend status or just snaps?
Snapchat’s algorithm focuses specifically on Snap sent back and forth when determining your interactions and best friends. So chats and messages alone don’t have as much impact as exchanging photo and video Snaps.
That said, consistently chatting or having long conversations with a friend in addition to Snapping can help boost their status and make them a top bestie candidate for pinning. But the Snaps themselves tend to be the primary driver.
Can you pin local friends vs long-distance friends?
Yes, you can pin a local best friend who you see frequently in person or a long-distance friend who you primarily Snap with – there are no restrictions on geographic location when it comes to pinning your #1.
However, if your pinned best friend is long-distance, make sure to keep actively Snapping them to maintain that top spot. Since you don’t see them in real life, your Snap interactions will need to compensate more to preserve their #1 status over local friends.
Should you pin your romantic partner or best friend?
You can pin a romantic partner like a boyfriend/girlfriend or spouse as your #1 if you talk to them the most. But for some, pinning a platonic best friend makes more sense based on daily interactions.
There’s no right or wrong answer – just pin whoever your go-to daily Snapchat pal is, whether that’s your SO, BFF, sibling, etc. The right choice comes down to your specific messaging habits with each friend.
Conclusion
In summary, Snapchat Plus allows you to pin any one friend as your #1 best friend, but it does not guarantee they will stay locked into that top spot forever. Your natural Snapchat habits and interactions can still cause your pinned friend to get replaced over time if you start frequently snapping new people.
To keep your #1 pinned BFF from getting bumped down, make sure to actively snap them on a regular basis. The more consistent your interactions remain with them, the less likely your algorithm is to push them out of that coveted top BFF position, despite the pin.
While pinning provides some stability and control, your ongoing Snapchat behavior matters more. So stay actively engaged with your pinned pal if you want to keep them cemented as your true #1 best friend on Snapchat.