Snapchat’s snap score feature has become a staple of the popular social media app ever since its introduction in 2015. For those unfamiliar, your snap score is a number that represents the total number of snaps you’ve ever sent and received. It’s essentially a running tally of your snap activity. However, some recent changes to Snapchat have led some users to speculate that snap scores may be removed in the future.
What is Snapchat’s snap score?
As mentioned above, your snap score on Snapchat is a number that goes up each time you send or receive a snap. You can see your own snap score in your profile, and you can also see your friends’ snap scores next to their names. Your score increases by one point for each snap you send, and by one point for each snap you receive. Your score does not decrease if someone deletes a snap you sent them. It only ever increases over time as you use Snapchat more.
Snapchat does not provide an official definition for what snap scores mean. However, most users assume that higher scores mean that person uses Snapchat frequently and actively engages with their friends on the app. Lower scores likely indicate the opposite – someone who rarely sends or opens snaps. Snapchat does not consider snap scores in their friend suggestion algorithms, so a high score does not make you more discoverable on the app.
How to increase your snap score
There are a few ways to quickly increase your Snapchat score if you want to grow the number:
- Send more snaps to your friends!
- Open snaps you receive from friends.
- Add more friends and engage with their content.
- Send snap streaks back and forth with friends every day.
- View and share Stories.
- Use Snapchat filters and lenses which count as sent snaps.
The more you actively use Snapchat to send, view, and receive snaps, the higher your score will climb. Streaks in particular are a quick way to rack up points.
Why do people care about snap scores?
Snapchat has not clearly defined what snap scores mean or how they should be interpreted. As a result, some users place an exaggerated importance on snap scores in social interactions on the app.
Here are some reasons why snap scores seem to matter to some Snapchat users:
- Bragging rights for having a high score.
- Signifies you use Snapchat a lot and are an active member of the community.
- Shows you have a wide Snapchat social circle.
- Having more streaks and a higher score than friends can be a status symbol.
- People may feel pressure to increase scores to keep up with friends.
- Misconception that scores affect Snapchat algorithms and visibility.
However, none of these perceived benefits have been confirmed by Snapchat. So while some users are preoccupied by snap scores, there is no actual importance or benefit to having a high score. It is merely a vanity metric.
Concerns and controversies around snap scores
The focus on snap scores has caused some issues and controversies among Snapchat users, including:
- Score obsession: Users spending too much time trying to increase scores.
- Score competition: Friends competing over who can get a higher score.
- Social pressure: Feeling pressured to maintain streaks and boost your score.
- Cheating: Apps that automatically send snaps to boost your score.
- Embarrassment: Feeling ashamed for having what some consider a “low” score.
- Stalking: Constantly checking friends’ scores and starting drama over scores.
- Reflection of value: Debates over whether scores determine your worth on Snapchat.
These issues demonstrate the problems that can arise when people assign excessive importance to snap scores. This has led some to call for Snapchat to remove the feature entirely.
Is Snapchat removing snap scores?
Snapchat has not made any official announcement regarding plans to remove snap scores. The feature is still present in the current version of the app. However, some speculate that Snapchat may eliminate snap scores in the future for a few reasons:
- Snapchat has been simplifying the app’s design over time, removing some underused and unnecessary features.
- Snapchat may want to discourage the unhealthy competition and obsession over snap scores.
- Scores do not seem aligned with Snapchat’s stated focus on real friend connections.
- Removing scores could help combat streak cheating apps.
- Other social platforms like Instagram do not have a similar scoring system.
While Snapchat has not confirmed plans to remove snap scores, there are plausible reasons this could occur during a future app update. However, snap scores have been around since 2015, so clearly they are not in a huge rush to eliminate this metric if they do intend to at all.
Evidence suggesting snap scores will remain
Despite speculation that Snapchat might remove snap scores, there are also some signs indicating they intend to keep the feature:
- Snapchat has not said scores are going away, even as they simplify other parts of the app.
- Scores are deeply ingrained into Snapchat culture at this point.
- New promotions like Snapchat+ highlight snap scores as a benefit.
- Scores encourage activity that helps Snapchat’s business model.
- Scores act as an incentive and gamification of the app.
Additionally, it does not appear that Snapchat is actively trying to combat the excessive focus some users place on snap scores. They have not tried educating users that scores do not matter, for example.
Unless Snapchat concludes that snap scores are detrimental to their business goals, the feature will likely stick around. The score has become too iconic to remove without backlash from the highly engaged user base.
Snapchat’s statements on snap scores
Snapchat has not provided much official commentary on whether snap scores will remain a part of the app. A spokesperson declined to comment on any potential plans when recently asked about this topic.
In a 2016 interview, a Snapchat team member provided some insight into their perspective on scores:
“Snapchat is really about talking with your close friends, and we found that scores are a great way to reflect and see where you’re spending your time and energy. They’re now an iconic part of Snapchat.”
This statement reveals that Snapchat views snap scores as an important reflection of user engagement. If that philosophy still holds true today, it supports the idea that scores will stay.
Pros of removing snap scores
There are some potential benefits Snapchat could realize if they remove snap scores from the app:
- Reduce unhealthy obsession and competition over scores.
- Promote more meaningful engagement between real friends.
- Eliminate social pressure and embarrassment over score size.
- Improve mental health by removing a metric of comparison.
- Discourage use of third-party apps to cheat scores.
- Simplify the app’s interface and focus on core functionality.
Especially if snap scores are causing significant issues for a sizable portion of users, Snapchat may need to step in and remove them. This could refocus the app on its core purpose – communication between friends.
Cons of removing snap scores
However, removing snap scores could also have some drawbacks:
- Scores are nostalgic for long-time Snapchat users.
- This iconic feature helps make Snapchat distinct.
- Highly engaged users may resent the change.
- Scores encourage snap activity that boosts Snapchat’s business.
- Could remove an incentive to open Snapchat daily.
- Might not change behavior much since third-party sites expose scores.
- Scores provide a limited sense of social standing on the app.
Snapchat will have to weigh whether the pros outweigh the potential backlash and reduction in activity from removing snap scores. The risks may be too high, unless user research shows scores cause more harm than good for their business.
How would removing scores impact Snapchat?
Eliminating snap scores could impact Snapchat and Snapchat users in the following ways:
- Temporary user outrage and complaints about the change.
- Loss of an iconic and nostalgic app feature.
- Reduced incentive for activity that boosts Snapchat usage.
- Lower snap volume as competition and gamification decreases.
- Less social pressure related to Snapchat usage.
- Lower importance placed on streaks and daily engagement.
- Shift in culture to focus more on Snapping friends rather than scores.
- Less third-party cheating as scores disappear.
- Need to find new ways to showcase status and engagement.
Some impacts may benefit users while decreasing potentially valuable engagement for Snapchat’s business. Other social media platforms function fine without public scoring systems, but removing scores would still represent a fundamental shift for Snapchat.
Public reaction if Snapchat removed scores
If Snapchat eliminated snap scores, people would likely react with a mix of different opinions:
- Long-time users upset about the loss of an iconic feature.
- Criticism that Snapchat is diverging from its identity.
- Praise from those who disliked score obsession.
- Confusion around why scores were seen as problematic.
- Frustration over loss of score gamification and competition.
- Indifference from casual Snapchat users unaffected by scores.
- Relief among those embarrassed by low scores.
- Accusations that Snapchat is going soft on problems.
Overall public reaction would depend on how prevalent score obsession truly is on Snapchat. Backlash would likely come from vocal power users angry over loss of status symbols. But more casual users may not care much or even notice scores are gone. Critics of score culture wouldapplaud the move.
How can users prepare if Snapchat removes scores?
To prepare for Snapchat potentially dropping snap scores, users can:
- Screenshot your score and old snaps to preserve your Snapchat memories.
- Download your Snapchat data to have a backup of your usage history.
- Remember your closest Snapchat friends so you can still connect without scores.
- Find other ways to showcase your Snapchat activity and engagement.
- Wean yourself off constantly checking scores so the removal isn’t a huge shock.
- Reflect on whether snap scores have been important for good reasons.
The loss of scores does not have to ruin Snapchat or end friendships. But those who relied heavily on scores for social standing may need time to adapt if Snapchat takes scores away.
Will Snapchat add a different scoring system?
Snapchat may try to soften the blow of removing snap scores by introducing a different scoring system for engagement. Potential alternatives could include:
- Scoring based on communication with your Best Friends.
- Lenses unlocked based on Snaps sent.
- A new iteration of Snapchat trophies.
- Points for daily streaks with friends.
- Custom friend emojis earned through frequent chat.
- Status indicators like “Super Snapper” based on usage.
New forms of gamification could provide some of the same social motivation and competitive fun of snap scores, without the same focus on clout chasing and quantity of snaps. But Snapchat may also determine no engagement scoring is healthiest.
Conclusion
Snapchat has not announced plans to remove snap scores, but concerns over score obsession have raised speculation that this could occur. While some would welcome the change as a return to Snapchat’s focus on friends, losing an iconic feature could anger engaged users. Scores likely encourage activity that benefits Snapchat’s business as well, making their removal riskier. But Snapchat must weigh if the sense of competition scores create aligns with the app’s goals going forward. Careful consideration will determine if snap scores have a future on Snapchat or will soon meet their demise.