Snapchat is a popular social media app that allows users to send photo and video messages that disappear after being viewed. One of Snapchat’s key features is the ability to add friends, either by username or from your contacts list. This leads many to wonder – if you add someone new on Snapchat that you have mutual friends with, will it say “added by search” or give away that connection?
The short answer is: no, Snapchat does not disclose if you have mutual friends when adding new connections. It simply shows the username without indicating how the person was added. However, there are a few caveats to this that are important to keep in mind when making new friends on Snapchat.
Adding Friends on Snapchat
There are three main ways to add friends on Snapchat:
1. Username Search
You can search for users by their username in the “Add Friends” section of the app. When adding a friend this way, their username will simply show up under your “Added Friends” list without any other context provided. Snapchat does not cross-reference friend connections at this stage.
2. Contacts Upload
You can also add Snapchat friends by syncing your device’s contacts and seeing which of those contacts are already on Snapchat. If you add friends via this method, again it does not indicate if those friends also share connections with your existing friends.
3. Quick Add
The “Quick Add” feature suggests friends for you to add based on mutual connections, but does not disclose this fact in the app. If you choose to add someone via Quick Add, their username alone will appear without further context.
Will Snapchat Disclose Mutual Friends?
The simple answer is no. When adding new Snapchat friends, the app does not explicitly indicate if the person was “added by search” or if you share mutual friends. The username is the only detail shown.
However, this does not mean it is impossible to figure out if you have overlapping friends with a new connection. There are a couple of ways this shared connection could be revealed:
Viewing Shared Friends on Their Profile
Once you have added someone as a friend, you can visit their profile to view their shared friend list. This will display friends you have in common. Snapchat recently launched a new “Mutual Friends” feature that highlights these connections at the top of someone’s friend list.
Seeing Old Snaps or Chats
If you and your new Snapchat friend have interacted in the past through mutual friends, you may come across old snap messages, chat conversations, or group messages that reveal this linkage.
Outside Snapchat Connections
Of course, you could learn you have mutual friends through non-Snapchat interactions, like talking to the person or seeing them in real life. The Snapchat app itself will not disclose this info directly.
Strategies to Keep Your Connection Private
If you want to keep the fact that you have mutual Snapchat friends private when making a new connection, here are some tips:
- Avoid Quick Add – This uses friend connections to recommend new friends, so skip it.
- Don’t look at their friend list – Don’t visit their profile to see if you have overlaps.
- Delete old chats – Remove previous conversations that could give it away.
- Don’t bring it up – Don’t mention you have mutual friends outside of Snapchat.
Following these guidelines will help keep your mutual connections anonymous within Snapchat. The app itself does a good job of keeping this linkage private when new friends are added.
Pros of Keeping the Connection Secret
There are a few advantages to keeping your mutual Snapchat friends private:
Unbiased Interactions
Not knowing the backstory of how you are connected allows you to build a friendship organically without any preconceived notions or influence from others.
New Opportunity
It provides a fresh start for getting to know someone without old baggage or gossip impacting things.
Privacy
You get to control how and when you reveal that existing connection based on your comfort level.
Cons of Concealing the Connection
However, there are also some drawbacks to hiding your mutual friends:
Dishonesty
It can come across as shady or deceitful if you intentionally conceal a known connection.
Chance of Discovery
As mentioned, there are still ways the mutual friends could be uncovered later on Snapchat or outside discussion.
Awkwardness
It may be uncomfortable if the friend discovers the hidden connections later and feels you were secretive.
Conclusion
Overall, Snapchat’s design protects your privacy by not revealing if new friends were found through searches or mutual connections. However, with a bit of effort those linkages can still be uncovered in other ways on or off the app. It is a personal choice whether to actively conceal having mutual friends when making a new connection. There are reasonable advantages to a fresh start, but also drawbacks if the omission is revealed later. Proceed with caution and respect for the other person’s perspective if trying to keep your existing friendships private on Snapchat.
Summary
– Snapchat does not show if a new friend was “added by search” or share mutual connections.
– The only info displayed is the new friend’s username.
– Mutual friends could still be revealed by looking at their profile, old snaps/chats, or outside discussions.
– You can conceal mutual friends by avoiding Quick Add, not looking at their profile, deleting old messages, and not bringing it up.
– Pros of concealment include unbiased interactions, a fresh start, and privacy. Cons are dishonesty, chance of discovery, and potential awkwardness.
– Overall it’s a personal choice, but proceed carefully if hiding mutual friends when adding new Snapchat connections.