Snapchat is a popular social media app that allows users to share photos, videos, and messages that disappear after being viewed. While Snapchat accounts start out private by default, users have the option to create a public profile if they choose.
What is a public profile on Snapchat?
A public profile on Snapchat allows anyone to view your profile information, Snapcode, stories, and Our Story contributions, even if they don’t add you as a friend. With a private profile, this information is only visible to your friends on Snapchat.
Some key things to know about Snapchat public profiles:
- Your display name, username, profile photo, and bio are visible to everyone.
- Your Snapcode is public so anyone can add you as a friend by scanning it.
- Your public stories and contributions to Our Stories are viewable by anyone.
- Your friends list, personal snaps, memories, and groups remain private.
- You can still control who can send you snaps and view your stories with privacy settings.
So in summary, a public profile shares certain information publicly while keeping private content visible only to friends. It’s a way to control what’s visible to the wider Snapchat community.
How to get a public profile on Snapchat
Getting a public profile on Snapchat is easy and can be done right from the app’s settings:
- Open your Snapchat app and tap on your profile icon in the top left corner.
- Go to the Settings screen by tapping the gear icon in the top right.
- Scroll down and tap “Who Can…” under the Privacy section.
- Tap “View My Story” and select “Everyone” instead of “My Friends.”
- Return to the main Settings screen and tap “Contact Me” under Username.
- Toggle the “Allow public access” switch on. This makes your username public.
And that’s it! Your profile is now public across Snapchat so anyone can view your public stories, Snapcode, username, and other public info. You can revert back to a private profile at any time by toggling these settings off again.
Who can view public Snapchat profiles?
If you have a public profile on Snapchat, then anyone with the Snapchat app can view your public information and stories. They don’t need to add you as a friend or follow you.
Here are the specifics on who can see what:
- Everyone: Display name, profile photo, username (if set to public), bio
- Everyone: Public stories and Our Story contributions
- Everyone: Snapcode (lets people add you as a friend)
- Friends Only: Personal snaps and messages
- Friends Only: Memories and private stories
- Friends Only: Friend list and groups
So while a public profile shares your name, username, photo, and public stories broadly, your personal conversations and friend list remain private.
Pros of a public Snapchat profile
There are a few potential upsides to making your Snapchat profile public:
- Lets anyone view your public content without needing to add you
- Makes it easier for new viewers to find and follow you if you have a unique username
- Broadens the reach of your public stories beyond just your friend list
- Gives influencers, creators, businesses wider audience for their public content
- Allows anyone to scan your Snapcode to connect with you on Snapchat
For those looking to build a following, creative professionals, brands, and businesses, a public profile can be beneficial to expanding your reach and making your Snapchat presence more discoverable.
Cons of a public Snapchat profile
However, there are also some downsides or risks to keep in mind:
- Loss of privacy – your photo, name, and public content is visible to ALL
- Anyone can screenshot your public content and stories
- Opens you up to unwanted friend requests or messages from strangers
- Stalkers or bullies could potentially target you if account is public
- Need to be thoughtful about what you post on public stories
- Harder to control who views your public content once shared
For privacy reasons, many individuals choose to keep their Snapchat profile private and only share more selectively with their friends. A public profile does open you up to having your information viewed and shared by anyone on the platform.
Tips for managing a public Snapchat profile
If you do opt for a public profile, here are some tips to manage it safely:
- Use privacy settings to control who can contact you directly or view certain stories.
- Be thoughtful about what you post publicly – assume it can be seen and reshared.
- Turn off location sharing for your public posts.
- Use a nickname or alias if you don’t want to use your real name.
- Block or report any harassing accounts.
- Restrict story replies to “My Friends” to control incoming content.
With the right precautions, you can benefit from a public profile while also keeping personal information private among friends only.
How to switch back to a private Snapchat profile
If you change your mind and want to return your Snapchat profile back to being private, just follow these steps:
- Open Snapchat settings and go to the “Who Can…” privacy section.
- Change “View My Story” back to “My Friends” only.
- Go to Username settings and toggle “Allow public access” off.
That’s all there is to it! All your information will now only be visible again to friends on Snapchat. You can toggle these public/private settings any time you choose.
Conclusion
To recap, here are the key facts on Snapchat public profiles:
- Public profiles share select info like username, photo, stories with everyone.
- Private details stay between friends only.
- It’s easy to change your profile to public or private in Snapchat’s settings.
- Public profiles can help expand your reach but come with privacy risks.
- Manage privacy settings and content carefully if you opt for a public profile.
Hopefully this gives you a better understanding of how Snapchat public profiles work and what to consider before making your profile public. Happy Snapping!