No, a Snapchat user’s best friend list is not public by default. The best friends list shows the usernames of the people you snap with the most, but it is private and only visible to you. Other Snapchat users cannot see your best friends list unless you intentionally share it with them.
What is the Snapchat Best Friends List?
The best friends list on Snapchat shows the users you interact with the most on the app. These are the people you send snaps, chats, and videos back and forth with regularly. Snapchat calculates your best friends based on the frequency of your interactions and how much time you spend chatting with each friend.
Your best friends list can contain up to 8 friends at a time. These friends’ usernames and Bitmoji will appear at the top of your friends list on the Chat screen. Snapchat updates your best friends list each week to reflect your recent interactions.
Who Can See Your Best Friends List?
By default, your Snapchat best friends list is private. Only you can see the list of your best friends on the app. Other Snapchat users do not have access to your best friends list.
You have full control over who can view your best friends. If you want certain friends to see your best friends, you can intentionally share it with them in a few ways:
- Send them a snap of your best friends list
- Show them your best friends in person
- Temporarily allow friend access through Snapchat settings
But without you actively sharing your best friends list, it remains private to you. Your contacts cannot find or see it on their own.
Why Snapchat Best Friends Are Private
Snapchat keeps best friends lists private by default for a few key reasons:
- User privacy – Keeping your interactions private allows you to use Snapchat more freely without worrying about who can see your activity.
- Avoid social pressure – A public best friends list could make some friendships appear closer than they really are.
- Personalization – Your best friends are based on your unique interactions. A customized, private list provides more value.
The goal is to give every user full control over their friendships and social circle on Snapchat. You get to decide when, how, and with whom you interact.
When Best Friends Became Private
Snapchat best friends lists were initially public when the feature launched in 2015. Any of your friends could view your best friends on the app.
But in early 2018, Snapchat rolled out an update making best friends lists private. Now only you can see your top friends by default.
This change was part of Snapchat’s broader efforts to enhance user privacy and control across the platform. The company continues to restrict public access to friend data and interactions over time.
How Friends Can See Your Best Friends List
If you want specific friends to be able to view your Snapchat best friends, there are a few straightforward ways to share it:
Send a Snap
Take a screenshot of your best friends list from the Chat tab. Then, send that photo to any friends you want to be able to view it.
Show In Person
Open the Snapchat app and show your best friends list directly to any friend that’s with you in person. This allows them to view the list temporarily.
Enable Access in Settings
You can temporarily allow a friend to view your best friends list directly from the app. Go to your Snapchat settings and enable “Allow [friend’s name] to view your best friends.” Set a duration for how long they can access it.
You can always revoke this access at any time. It’s one-time permission to view your best friends until you disable it again.
What Friends Can See About Your Best Friends
The only information friends can see about your best friends is the list of usernames. They will not be able to see any deeper insights or statistics.
For example, friends cannot see:
- How frequently you snap each best friend
- Your chat history or interactions
- Bitmoji/avatars of your best friends
- Any other activity or scores
So while friends you intentionally share with can view the list of top usernames, all of the personal activity powering the list remains private.
What Happens If You Remove a Best Friend
When you remove someone from your Snapchat best friends list, they will not receive any notification about the change. The list update remains private to you.
Reasons you may choose to remove a best friend include:
- You don’t snap that friend as often anymore
- Your friend did something to upset you
- You want a different friend to become a best friend
Regardless of the reason, removing a best friend is a private action. You have full control over your list at all times.
Can You Have a Private Best Friends List?
Yes, all Snapchat best friends lists are already private by default as of 2018. Snapchat users have full control over who they share their list with.
To recap:
- Your best friends list is visible only to you.
- You choose when and with whom to share your list.
- Friends you share your list with can only see the usernames.
- All your detailed interactions and activity remain hidden.
So every Snapchat user inherently has a private best friends list today. It’s designed this way directly within Snapchat for optimal user privacy and control.
Maintaining Your Best Friends List
Here are some tips to manage your best friends list on Snapchat:
- Regularly review the list – Check your list each week to see who still deserves the “best” friend status.
- Remove inactive friends – Take off friends you rarely interact with anymore to make room for others.
- Share selectively – Only share your list when you truly want someone to see it, not by default.
- Don’t overthink it – Your list is private, so you don’t have to worry about offending friends who aren’t on it.
Having a curated best friends list can make your Snapchat friendships more intentional. But the privacy allows you to customize it for your needs.
Can You See Someone Else’s Best Friends?
No, you cannot view another person’s Snapchat best friends list. Just like your list is private from others, all user’s best friends lists are completely private.
The only way to see a friend’s best friends is if they intentionally share their list with you. You have no other way to access or view it.
If you want to see a friend’s best list, you can ask them to send you a snap or temporarily enable access. But ultimately, it’s up to their discretion whether to share it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can I sometimes see my friend’s best friends?
If you’re able to view a friend’s best list, it’s because they’ve chosen to share their list with you through settings, in person, or by sending a snap. Best friends lists are never publicly visible.
Can my friends see changes to my best friends list?
No, your friends cannot see any changes to your best friends list unless you share an updated version. The list remains fully private to you.
How often does Snapchat update your best friends?
Snapchat recalculates your best friends list each week. It tracks your last 7 days of interactions to determine your top 8 friends for that period.
What if I don’t interact with someone but want them as a best friend?
Even if you don’t actively snap someone, you can pin that friend to your best friends list. This will keep them in your top friends for as long as you choose.
Can I reorder my best friends list?
No, Snapchat automatically orders your best friend list based on your interactions. There is no way to manually reorder the list yourself.
Is my best friends list the same as my snapstreaks?
No, your snapstreaks show friends you’ve snapped every day. Your best friends are determined based on overall interaction frequency and time spent chatting.