Snapchat is a popular social media app that allows users to send photo and video messages that disappear after being viewed. Two key features on Snapchat are adding friends and subscribing to other users’ public stories. While there are some similarities between friends and subscriptions, there are also some key differences.
Adding Friends
Adding friends on Snapchat allows you to send private photo and video snaps to each other. When you add someone as a friend on Snapchat, they are notified and have the option to add you back. If they add you back, you’ll be connected as friends.
Some key things to know about adding friends on Snapchat:
- You can only send private messages to users who have added you back as a friend.
- Your list of friends is private – only you can see who your friends are.
- There is no limit to how many friends you can have.
- You can send a friend request to anyone with a Snapchat account.
- Adding friends lets you see their private Story updates.
Overall, adding friends allows for direct messaging and sharing of photos, videos and stories between users in a private way.
Subscribing to Public Stories
Subscribing to someone’s public Story on Snapchat simply means you will be able to view updates they post to their public Story. This does not require a two-way connection like adding Friends does.
Here are some key things to know about subscribing to public Stories:
- You do not need to send a request or be approved to subscribe – it’s open to anyone.
- The user will not be notified when you subscribe to their public Story.
- There is no limit to how many public Stories you can subscribe to.
- Subscribing does not give you access to the user’s private Story.
- You cannot message a user just because you subscribe to their public Story.
Subscribing simply lets you passively view a user’s public Story. It does not represent a two-way connection like adding a friend does.
Comparing Friends and Subscriptions
Now that we’ve covered the basics, here is a table summarizing the key differences between friends and subscriptions on Snapchat:
| Friends | Subscriptions |
|---|---|
| Two-way, private connection | One-way, public connection |
| Can send private messages | Cannot message just from subscribing |
| Access to private Stories | No access to private Stories |
| Request sent and accepted | No request or approval needed |
| Notifications when added | No notifications |
In summary, adding Friends allows for direct messaging and private sharing, while subscribing to public Stories is more of a one-way, passive connection just to view public updates.
Adding Friends on Snapchat
If you want to become Friends with someone on Snapchat, it’s a simple process:
- Open your Snapchat app and tap the Add Friends icon (person and plus symbol).
- Choose how you want to find friends:
- Tap “Add by Username” to search for a specific Snapchat username.
- Tap “Add Nearby” to see Snapchat users who are geographically close to you.
- Tap “Add from Contacts” to connect with friends who already have Snapchat.
- Tap “Add from Address Book” to find contacts from your device’s address book who use Snapchat.
- Select the user you want to add as a friend. This will send them a Friend request.
- If they accept your request, you’ll be connected as Friends!
Once connected as Friends, you’ll be able to send private Snaps back and forth, view each other’s private Stories, chat, call, video chat and more.
Tips for Adding Friends
- You can only become Friends if the other user adds you back – the connection must be mutual.
- Tap and hold on a user’s name or Snapcode to bring up the Add Friend option.
- Only send Friend requests to people you actually know, to avoid spam.
- You can save incoming requests to add users back later before the request expires.
- Make sure your privacy settings are configured to your comfort level.
Subscribing to Public Stories
Subscribing to someone’s public Story on Snapchat is much simpler than adding Friends:
- Go to their Snapchat profile, either by searching for their username or scanning their Snapcode.
- On their profile, tap on the button next to “Subscribe” to follow their public Story.
- That’s it! You’re now subscribed and can view any public Story updates they post.
A few things to note about public Story subscriptions:
- You can find lots of entertaining public Stories from celebrities, artists, publishers and more to subscribe to.
- Subscriptions are passive – the user won’t know you’ve subscribed.
- Users can post updates frequently or infrequently. You may not see new Stories daily.
- If their content is no longer interesting to you, you can easily unsubscribe at any time.
Finding Public Stories to Subscribe To
There are a few ways to find public Snapchat Stories to subscribe to:
- Browse Snapchat’s “Discover” section – this highlights popular public Stories.
- Search for specific usernames you want to follow.
- Check the Subscriptions of your Friends – their subscriptions may interest you too.
- Explore Snapchat Story categories like Entertainment, Sports, News, and more.
- Allow Snapchat to provide suggested Stories based on your interests.
Subscribing is an easy way to spice up your Snapchat feed with new content. Over time, you can curate a custom set of subscriptions that entertain and inform you.
Messaging Friends vs. Viewers
One major difference between Friends and Story subscriptions on Snapchat is messaging abilities:
- Messaging Friends – You can freely message back and forth with Friends. Your chats will be private.
- Messaging Subscribers – You cannot directly message someone just because they view your public Story. Messaging requires being Friends.
So if you want to be able to directly message another Snapchat user, you must connect as Friends. Simply subscribing to their Story does not give messaging abilities.
How to Message a Friend
Messaging Snapchat Friends is easy:
- Open your Friends list in the Snapchat app.
- Tap on the name of the Friend you want to message.
- This will open your chat – type out a message and hit send!
- You can also send photo and video snaps directly in chats.
You and your Friends can have ongoing conversations via chat. The messages will disappear after being read, but you can always pick up where you left off in your chat history.
Public Story Reply Settings
While you can’t directly message Story subscribers, Story owners can configure reply settings:
- Allow Replies from Everyone – Subscribers can send public replies that are visible to all viewers.
- Allow Replies from Friends – Only the Story owner’s Friends can reply.
- Don’t Allow Replies – No replies can be sent to the Story.
So while you can’t directly message Story viewers, the Story owner can permit forms of public replies to their content.
Privacy Settings
Snapchat offers robust privacy settings to control your interactions with Friends and subscribers. Key settings to review:
Settings for Adding Friends
- Who Can See Your Friends List – Choose whether it’s visible to all, Friends only, or just you.
- Who Can Send You Friend Requests – Limit requests to Friends of Friends or turn off requests entirely.
- Saved Incoming Requests – Choose how long new requests remain visible before expiring.
Settings for Story Subscriptions
- Private Story – Limit your Story visibility to specific Friends.
- Blocked Accounts – Block specific users from viewing your Story.
- Location Sharing – Turn off location data if you don’t want subscribers seeing where you Snap.
Take time to review all of Snapchat’s privacy options to tailor your experience. You can find these settings under your profile by tapping the gear icon.
Conclusion
Adding Friends and subscribing to Stories can both be great ways to enhance your Snapchat experience. Friends provide a private social connection for sharing your life, while subscriptions give entertainment and news from public figures you admire. Optimizing your Friends list and Story feed allows you to get the most out of Snapchat every day!