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How to Hide Someone From Your Snapchat Best Friends List: The Definitive Guide

Let’s cut to the chase. You cannot directly hide someone from your Snapchat Best Friends list. Snapchat’s algorithm automatically generates the list based on your interaction frequency. There is no built-in feature to manually remove or conceal a specific individual. However, fear not! While a direct “hide” button is a myth, strategic maneuvers can help you minimize their prominence or obscure the list altogether. We’ll explore these savvy workarounds in detail.

Understanding the Snapchat Best Friends List

Before diving into our bag of tricks, it’s vital to understand how Snapchat determines your “Best Friends.” It’s not just about who you snap the most; it’s a complex equation factoring in:

Frequency of Snaps and Chats: How often do you exchange snaps and messages?
Reciprocity: Is the communication two-sided, or is it mostly one-way?
Recent Interaction: More recent interactions carry more weight.
Group Chats: Activity in group chats can also influence the list.

Snapchat’s algorithm is a closely guarded secret, but these factors are generally accepted as the main determinants. This understanding is crucial because it informs our strategies for “hiding” someone.

Workarounds to Minimize Visibility

Since direct hiding isn’t an option, we’ll focus on influencing the algorithm and managing your privacy settings. These tactics require consistent effort, but they can be remarkably effective.

1. Dilute Your Interaction

This is the most straightforward, albeit time-consuming, approach. If you want to de-prioritize a particular person, consciously reduce your snaps and chats with them. The less you interact, the lower they’ll fall on your list.

Instead of snapping them directly, focus on sending snaps to a wider audience (e.g., your story).
Reduce the frequency of your replies to their messages.
Limit your involvement in group chats they’re a part of.

This method requires patience, as the algorithm doesn’t change overnight. However, consistent reduction in interaction will eventually yield results.

2. Increase Interaction with Others

The opposite of dilution is amplification. To push someone down the list, you need to elevate others. Actively engage with other Snapchat users to increase their standing in your Best Friends list.

Prioritize snapping and chatting with individuals you want to see higher on your list.
Engage in longer conversations with these users.
Send more multimedia snaps (photos and videos) rather than just text-based chats.

This strategy works best in conjunction with reducing interaction with the person you want to hide.

3. Utilize the “Best Friends” Emoji Settings

While you can’t hide someone entirely, you can customize the emojis associated with your Best Friends. This doesn’t remove them from the list, but it can make them less conspicuous to anyone looking over your shoulder.

Go to Settings > Manage > Friend Emojis.
Customize the emojis for each tier of friendship (Super BFF, Besties, BFs, Mutual BFs, etc.).
Use generic or less obvious emojis for the tiers where the person you want to hide might appear. For instance, instead of a heart emoji, use a neutral smiley face.

This tactic is more about visual discretion than actual concealment.

4. Manage Your Privacy Settings

While it doesn’t directly impact your Best Friends list, adjusting your privacy settings can prevent others from seeing who is on your list.

Go to Settings > Who Can… > View My Story. Consider setting this to “Friends Only” or “Custom” to control who sees your activity.
Adjust “Quick Add” settings. If you’re concerned about the person showing up in other people’s Quick Add suggestions based on mutual friends, you can limit who can see you in Quick Add.

These settings don’t hide the person from your list, but they can limit others’ visibility into your Snapchat network.

5. The “Nuke and Repopulate” Method (Extreme Measure)

This is a drastic option with potential drawbacks. You can essentially delete your entire Snapchat account and create a new one. This resets your Best Friends list to zero.

WARNING: This will delete all your snaps, stories, and chat history. You’ll also have to re-add all your friends.
Only consider this if you’re truly desperate and willing to sacrifice your existing Snapchat data.

After creating the new account, be very selective about who you add and how you interact with them. This is a nuclear option and should be reserved for extreme circumstances.

6. Block and Unblock (Temporary Effect)

Blocking someone will remove them from your Best Friends list temporarily. However, once you unblock them, they may reappear if your interaction history warrants it.

Block the person.
Wait a day or two.
Unblock the person.

This can sometimes reset their position on your list, but it’s not a guaranteed fix and can be seen as a socially awkward move. Use with caution.

The Ethical Considerations

It’s important to consider the ethical implications of trying to hide someone from your Best Friends list. Are you trying to deceive someone? Will your actions hurt the other person’s feelings? Honesty and open communication are often the best policy, even if it’s uncomfortable. Before resorting to these tactics, consider if there’s a more direct and honest way to address the underlying issue.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Does Snapchat notify someone if they are removed from my Best Friends list?

No, Snapchat does not send notifications when someone is removed from your Best Friends list. They might notice if they are particularly observant, but there’s no explicit alert.

2. Can someone see my Best Friends list?

No, other Snapchat users cannot directly see your Best Friends list. The list is private to you. However, they can infer who your Best Friends are based on your interactions and public activity.

3. Does having a private Snapchat account affect my Best Friends list?

A private account doesn’t directly impact how your Best Friends list is generated. It only restricts who can see your stories and add you as a friend. The algorithm still works based on your interaction patterns.

4. Will deleting my conversations with someone remove them from my Best Friends list?

Deleting conversations might have a small impact, but it’s not a guaranteed solution. The algorithm considers the overall history of your interactions, not just the current state of your chat log.

5. How often does Snapchat update the Best Friends list?

Snapchat’s algorithm is dynamic and constantly updates the Best Friends list based on your recent activity. There’s no fixed schedule, but changes typically reflect your interaction patterns over the past few days or weeks.

6. Does Snapchat Plus offer any features to hide Best Friends?

No, Snapchat Plus doesn’t provide any features to directly hide or manipulate your Best Friends list. Its benefits primarily focus on customization, exclusive features, and priority support, not privacy controls regarding your Best Friends.

7. Can using Snapchat on multiple devices affect my Best Friends list?

Using Snapchat on multiple devices should not significantly affect your Best Friends list. The algorithm is tied to your account and your interactions, regardless of the device you use.

8. Is there a third-party app that can hide someone from my Best Friends list?

Be extremely cautious of third-party apps claiming to manipulate your Snapchat Best Friends list. These apps are often scams or malware and can compromise your account security. Avoid them at all costs.

9. How does Snapchat decide who is a “Super BFF”?

The “Super BFF” status indicates that you and another user are each other’s number one Best Friend for at least two consecutive weeks. It signifies a particularly strong and consistent level of interaction.

10. What happens if I block someone and then unblock them? Will they still be my Best Friend?

Blocking and unblocking someone will temporarily remove them from your Best Friends list. However, if you resume your previous level of interaction, they may reappear on the list over time.

11. Does sharing my location with someone affect my Best Friends list?

While location sharing itself doesn’t directly affect the Best Friends list, it often correlates with increased interaction. You’re more likely to snap and chat with people you see regularly, which can influence the algorithm.

12. If someone blocks me, will I still see them on my Best Friends list?

If someone blocks you, they will disappear from your Best Friends list (and vice versa). You will no longer be able to interact with them on Snapchat until they unblock you.

In conclusion, while a simple “hide” button doesn’t exist on Snapchat, a combination of strategic interaction management and privacy settings adjustments can help you achieve a similar outcome. Remember to consider the ethical implications and prioritize honesty and open communication whenever possible. Good luck navigating the complexities of Snapchat’s Best Friends list!