What Is Following on Snapchat? The Insider’s Guide

Following on Snapchat, at its core, is the mechanism by which you connect with and view content from other users. It’s your digital invitation to see their Snap Stories, and it’s how they gain access to yours, assuming your account isn’t private. Think of it as a mutual agreement (or, in some cases, a one-sided admiration) that grants access to a curated glimpse into someone’s life through the lens of disappearing photos and videos. It’s about building a network, seeing what friends are up to, and staying connected in the fleeting world of Snapchat.

Diving Deeper: The Nuances of Snapchat Following

While the basic concept of following seems straightforward, Snapchat introduces a few key distinctions compared to other social media platforms. Understanding these differences is crucial for navigating the Snapchat ecosystem effectively.

One-Way vs. Mutual Following

Unlike platforms where following automatically implies a reciprocal relationship, Snapchat allows for one-way following. This means you can subscribe to someone’s public stories (if their account settings permit) without them necessarily following you back. This is particularly relevant for following celebrities, influencers, or public figures who often maintain a large following without reciprocating.

Mutual following, on the other hand, occurs when both users follow each other. This generally happens between friends, family, and acquaintances. This reciprocal connection allows you to directly send Snaps and chat with each other.

Adding vs. Following

It’s crucial to understand that “adding” someone on Snapchat is often used interchangeably with “following,” especially when discussing mutual connections. When you add someone, and they add you back, you’re essentially establishing a mutual following relationship. However, the terminology can be slightly confusing, as you can “follow” someone without them needing to “add” you back if their account settings allow for public story viewing.

Privacy and Follower Visibility

Snapchat places a strong emphasis on privacy. Unless a user’s profile is set to public, you’ll need to be added as a friend (i.e., have a mutual following relationship) to view their stories and send them Snaps. The platform doesn’t typically display a comprehensive list of followers to the public, further protecting user privacy. The number of users following your public profile can be seen, but not the accounts themselves. This is a major difference from other platforms like Instagram or Twitter.

FAQs: Demystifying Snapchat Following

Let’s tackle some of the most frequently asked questions about following on Snapchat to clear up any remaining confusion.

1. How do I find people to follow on Snapchat?

You can find people to follow using several methods:

• Username Search: If you know someone’s exact username, you can search for it in the search bar at the top of the screen.
• Snapcode: Snapchat users can share their Snapcode (a unique QR code) for easy adding. You can scan a Snapcode using the Snapchat camera.
• Contacts: Snapchat can access your phone’s contact list and suggest friends who are also on the platform.
• Quick Add: Snapchat’s “Quick Add” feature suggests users based on mutual friends, location, and other factors.
• Public Profiles: Some public figures and brands have publicly discoverable profiles.

2. How do I know if someone is following me on Snapchat?

While Snapchat doesn’t explicitly notify you when someone starts following you (in the one-way sense), you’ll know if someone adds you as a friend because you’ll receive a notification that they’ve added you back if you add them first. Otherwise, their name will appear in the “Added Me” section. You can only send direct Snaps to people that have added you back. If a user has a public profile, you can also see the number of users following them.

3. Can I block someone from following me on Snapchat?

Yes. Blocking someone prevents them from viewing your stories (even public ones, if applicable), sending you Snaps, or interacting with you on the platform. To block someone, go to their profile and select “Block” from the options menu.

4. What’s the difference between “friends” and “followers” on Snapchat?

On Snapchat, the term “friends” generally refers to users you have a mutual following relationship with. You can send them direct Snaps, chat with them, and view their private stories. “Followers,” in the context of Snapchat, are users who are subscribed to your public story. This is primarily relevant for users with public profiles.

5. How do I make my Snapchat profile public?

To create a public profile, you’ll need to meet certain criteria, like being over 18 years old. The process usually involves going to your profile settings and selecting the option to create a public profile. Keep in mind that making your profile public means anyone can potentially view your public stories.

6. Can I see who unfollowed me on Snapchat?

Snapchat doesn’t provide a direct feature to see who unfollowed you. There is no built-in follower list for the average user to reference.

7. How do I stop someone from viewing my Snapchat stories?

If you only want to allow specific friends to view your Story, you can set your Story privacy to “Friends Only” in your settings. If you have certain people added that you don’t want to see it, you’ll need to remove them as a friend, or block them altogether.

8. What are Snapchat Spotlight stories and how do they relate to following?

Snapchat Spotlight is a public feed where users can submit their best Snaps for a chance to be featured and potentially earn money. While you don’t explicitly “follow” Spotlight users, your interactions (likes, shares, etc.) with their Snaps influence the algorithm and may lead to you seeing more of their content. It’s less about direct following and more about algorithm-driven content discovery.

9. Is it possible to buy followers on Snapchat?

While it might be technically possible to purchase followers, it’s strongly discouraged. These followers are often bots or fake accounts, which don’t engage with your content and can damage your credibility. Snapchat also has mechanisms in place to detect and remove fake accounts.

10. How does Snapchat determine who appears in my “Quick Add” list?

Snapchat’s “Quick Add” feature relies on a combination of factors:

• Mutual Friends: Users who share common friends with you are more likely to appear.
• Location: Snapchat may suggest users who are physically near you.
• Contacts: People in your phone’s contact list who are also on Snapchat.
• Interests: Snapchat analyzes your activity and suggests users with similar interests.

11. Can I have multiple Snapchat accounts?

Yes, you can technically have multiple Snapchat accounts, but it’s against Snapchat’s terms of service to create accounts for spamming or other malicious purposes. Be sure to only have another account for legitimate uses.

12. How do I remove a follower on Snapchat?

Since users that are not “friends” technically do not follow you, the only way to remove a follower is to block the user. This will prevent them from viewing your public stories or attempting to contact you.