Snapchat’s quick add feature allows users to easily find and add new friends on Snapchat. But how exactly does Snapchat determine which users show up in your quick add list? There are a few key factors that go into Snapchat’s quick add algorithm.
Location
One of the main factors Snapchat uses to populate your quick add list is location. Users who are physically close to you are more likely to show up as suggestions. Snapchat likely uses your device’s GPS and IP address to determine your general location and then surfaces users within a certain radius.
So if you’re at school or work, you’ll probably see quick add suggestions of people who go to your school or work in your office. And if you’re out and about in your city, you may see quick add users who live or are hanging out near you.
Contacts and Friends of Friends
In addition to location, Snapchat also looks at your contacts and friends of friends when generating your quick add list. If someone in your phone’s contact list starts using Snapchat, they will likely show up as a suggestion. Snapchat may also surface friends of your existing Snapchat connections as quick add recommendations.
So if your best friend on Snapchat adds their cousin, that cousin may then show up in your quick add list since you share a mutual connection. This helps users quickly find and connect with friends of friends on the app.
Shared Interests and Interactions
Snapchat also tries to recommend users in quick add who share common interests or interactions with you. For example, if you post Stories frequently about basketball or video games, you may be suggested users whose Snaps indicate they like those topics too.
Or if you watch a particular Snapchatter’s Story regularly or have previously interacted with their content, Snapchat may pick up on that behavior and recommend them in your quick add list so it’s easier to become friends.
Demographics
Demographics like age, gender, and location also likely play a role in which users you are suggested in quick add. Snapchat may intentionally surface users with similar demographics as you to improve the relevance of the recommendations.
So a 24-year-old woman in Los Angeles will probably see different quick add suggestions than a 40-year-old man in Chicago, since they may have less in common and be less likely to become friends on Snapchat.
Snapchat Activity
How active you are on Snapchat can also influence your quick add recommendations. Users who snap frequently may see more quick add suggestions than those who rarely post snaps or stories. Frequent usage signals greater engagement on the app, so Snapchat responds by surfacing more friend recommendations.
Additionally, newly registered Snapchat users may see more quick add suggestions early on to help them quickly build up their friend list and better enjoy the app.
Snap Score
Your Snapscore, which counts the total number of Snaps you’ve ever sent and received, may also play into quick add. Those with higher Snapscores are likely more active users, so Snapchat may surface more friend suggestions to keep them engaged on the app.
Conversely, those with very low Snapscores may get additional quick add recommendations to provide them with more friends to Snap and boost their overall usage.
Conclusion
Snapchat’s quick add feature uses a variety of factors to determine which users to recommend you add as friends. Location, contacts, interests, demographics, activity level, and Snapscore all play a role in populating the quick add list. By considering these different elements, Snapchat tries to provide the most relevant, high-quality quick add suggestions to enhance the user experience and facilitate making new connections.
While the exact quick add algorithm is proprietary, it’s clear Snapchat has developed an intelligent system for suggesting new friends you’re most likely to enjoy snapping. So go ahead and add some quick add users to expand your Snapchat circle!
Factor | Description |
---|---|
Location | Users physically close to you |
Contacts | People in your phone’s contact list |
Friends of Friends | Connections of your Snapchat friends |
Shared Interests | Users with similar interests and interactions |
Demographics | Age, gender, location similarities |
Snapchat Activity | Frequent postersprioritized |
Snapscore | Higher score = more suggestions |
Location Matters
Snapchat heavily factors proximity into quick add. Users physically close to you are very likely to show up as suggestions. This provides locally relevant recommendations you’re more likely to add and snap.
Leveraging Your Network
By surfacing friends of friends as quick add options, Snapchat facilitates expanding your social network on the platform. Adding cousins, co-workers, classmates, and other second connections is easy with quick add.
Interest and Interaction Insights
Quick add gets smarter over time by understanding your interests based on your snapping activity. Users with common interests and interactions will organically rise to the top of your suggestions.
Newer Users See More Suggestions
Quick add is crucial for new Snapchat users to easily build up their friends list when they first join the app. That’s why newer users will see more quick add suggestions at first.
Higher Engagement, More Suggestions
Power users on Snapchat get shown more quick add friends because they are more active on the platform. Quick add helps fuel their engagement by providing new friend options.
Quick add has become a popular way for Snapchat users to expand their friend network on the app. While Snapchat keeps the exact quick add algorithm private, location, contacts, interests, activity levels, demographics, and other signals clearly influence which recommendations you see. The suggestions are tailored to help you organically discover new, relevant friends on Snapchat.