How to Delete Best Friends on Snapchat: A Definitive Guide

Want to curate your Snapchat inner circle? While you can’t outright “delete” someone from your Best Friends list, understanding how the Snapchat algorithm works is key to influencing who appears on it. This article unveils the nuances of Snapchat’s friendship dynamics and provides a strategic approach to reshape your list. The good news is that you can definitely manipulate the algorithm to your advantage.

Understanding the Snapchat Best Friends Algorithm

Snapchat’s Best Friends list isn’t a manually curated list. It’s automatically generated based on your interaction patterns. The more you Snap and Chat with someone, the higher their chances of appearing on your Best Friends list. The algorithm considers factors like:

• Frequency of Snaps: How often you send Snaps to someone.
• Frequency of Chats: How often you Chat with someone.
• Reciprocity: How often they Snap and Chat back.
• Recent Interactions: More recent interactions weigh more heavily.

The algorithm prioritizes those you interact with most frequently and recently. Therefore, the ‘deletion’ process involves strategically shifting your interactions away from the ‘best friend’ you want to remove and towards others.

The Indirect Approach: Manipulating the Algorithm

Since Snapchat doesn’t offer a direct “remove from Best Friends” button, you’ll need to employ an indirect strategy. This involves a combination of reducing interaction with the unwanted “best friend” and increasing interaction with others. Here’s a step-by-step approach:

1. Reduce Interaction: The most critical step is to significantly reduce the number of Snaps and Chats you send to the person you want to remove. Even viewing their stories or reacting to them can contribute to their ranking. Aim for a complete or near-complete cessation of interaction.
2. Increase Interaction with Others: Simultaneously, actively increase your interaction with other Snapchat users you want to become your Best Friends. Send them more Snaps, engage in more Chats, and react to their stories. Focus on building consistent and reciprocal communication.
3. Be Patient: The Snapchat algorithm doesn’t update in real-time. It may take days, weeks, or even a month for the changes to reflect in your Best Friends list. Consistency is key.
4. Monitor Changes: Keep an eye on your Best Friends list to see if your strategy is working. You can usually observe gradual shifts as the algorithm adjusts to your altered interaction patterns.

A Note on Blocking and Unfriending

• Blocking: Blocking someone will remove them from your friends list entirely and they will no longer be able to see or contact you. This is a permanent solution to removing someone from your social sphere, but also removes them from your entire contact list on Snapchat.
• Unfriending: Unfriending someone will remove them from your friends list, preventing them from seeing your private stories and sending you direct Snaps or Chats unless your privacy settings allow it. They can still see your public content and can re-add you as a friend if they choose. This, like blocking, is more of a last resort if you no longer wish to maintain a connection with this individual.

Neither blocking nor unfriending is necessary to manipulate the Best Friends list. The goal is to influence the algorithm, not necessarily to sever all ties.

The Importance of Ghost Mode

Using Ghost Mode strategically can also help influence your Best Friends list, indirectly. When in ghost mode, others cannot see where you are on the Snap Map, potentially preventing unwanted interactions. It also gives you more control over who you choose to interact with.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are answers to some of the most common questions about managing your Best Friends on Snapchat:

1. How many Best Friends can I have on Snapchat?

Snapchat displays a maximum of three Best Friends prominently with emojis next to their names in the Chat screen. However, the broader algorithm might recognize more than three as frequent contacts.

2. Will someone know if I remove them from my Best Friends list?

No, Snapchat doesn’t notify users when they are removed from someone’s Best Friends list. The change is subtle and only visible to you. However, they may notice if they no longer see the Best Friend emoji next to your name.

3. How long does it take for someone to be removed from my Best Friends list?

The timeframe varies. It can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks depending on the intensity of your previous interaction and how consistently you maintain the reduced interaction.

4. Can I manually select who appears on my Best Friends list?

Unfortunately, no. Snapchat’s Best Friends list is entirely algorithm-driven. There is no option to manually add or remove users.

5. Does deleting conversations affect the Best Friends algorithm?

Yes, deleting conversations can impact the algorithm, although the effect might be minimal compared to actively reducing Snap and Chat frequency. Deleting old conversations can signal to the algorithm that the interaction is less relevant.

6. Will viewing someone’s stories keep them on my Best Friends list?

Yes, viewing someone’s stories can contribute to their ranking in the algorithm, although to a smaller degree than sending Snaps and Chats. Reducing story views can be part of the overall strategy.

7. Does it matter if I only send Snaps and not Chats, or vice versa?

Both Snaps and Chats are considered important by the algorithm, but Snaps generally hold more weight due to their primary function on the app. Reducing both is advisable.

8. If I have a private story, will interacting with people on that story affect my Best Friends list?

Yes, interactions within private stories will contribute to the Best Friends algorithm. Be mindful of who you include in private stories and how often you interact with them there.

9. Does Snapchat Plus offer features to control Best Friends lists?

As of the current version, Snapchat Plus does not offer a direct feature to manually manage Best Friends lists. However, they may introduce new features in the future. Always check Snapchat’s official documentation for the latest features.

10. If I start interacting with someone new, how long will it take for them to appear on my Best Friends list?

This depends on your previous interaction levels. If you interact with the new person more than your current “Best Friends” for a sustained period, they could appear on your list within a week or two.

11. Can I reset my Best Friends list entirely?

No, there is no “reset” button for your Best Friends list. The only way to reshape it is through consistently adjusting your interaction patterns.

12. Is there a limit to how many people I can actively interact with to manipulate the Best Friends list?

There is no explicit limit, but the algorithm is designed to identify your most frequent interactions. Spreading your interactions too thinly across a large number of people might make it harder to influence the list effectively. Focus on building consistent interaction with a smaller, targeted group.

Conclusion

Managing your Best Friends on Snapchat is about understanding and strategically manipulating the platform’s algorithm. While you can’t directly delete someone, by reducing interaction with unwanted individuals and increasing interaction with desired ones, you can effectively reshape your Snapchat inner circle. Remember, patience and consistency are crucial. Good luck, and may your Best Friends list reflect your current social priorities!