The world of social media is full of emojis, each carrying its own unique meaning depending on the context of the platform. On Snapchat in particular, emojis beside usernames symbolize everything from friendship status to engagement level. Among these, the sunglasses emoji 😎 has sparked curiosity and questions among users trying to decode its meaning within the app.
TL;DR
The sunglasses emoji 😎 on Snapchat appears next to a friend’s name when that user is a “mutual best friend.” This means you and that person both share a close Snap friend in common. It doesn’t necessarily mean you’re besties with them, but you both regularly snap the same person. Snapchat uses this emoji to show overlapping friendships and social circles in a fun, visual way.
What Does the Sunglasses Emoji Mean on Snapchat?
The 😎 sunglasses emoji is one of Snapchat’s many “Friend Emojis.” These symbols appear next to the names of friends with whom you share certain specific interactions. The sunglasses emoji, in particular:
- Indicates that one of your Best Friends on Snapchat is also a Best Friend of that person.
- Appears when both you and another user send a lot of snaps to the same third person.
- Represents a kind of “mutual friend” circle, not necessarily a direct relationship.
Snapchat’s Best Friends feature tracks mutual interactions but does so secretly, meaning only you see your list of best friends, and the sunglasses emoji gives a small, cryptic view into your social network.
How Is the Sunglasses Emoji Different From Other Snapchat Emojis?
Snapchat users often confuse the sunglasses emoji with other similar-looking and conceptually related emojis. Here’s how it differs from some of the most common ones:
- 😊 Smiling Face: This means the person is one of your Best Friends — you send many snaps to them, but they might not snap back as frequently.
- 💛 Yellow Heart: You are each other’s #1 Best Friend — you both send the most snaps to each other.
- 🔥 Fire: Represents a Snapstreak, which shows how many consecutive days you’ve exchanged photos or videos with someone.
- 😎 Sunglasses: You and this person snap the same Best Friend regularly.
The key difference is that the sunglasses emoji points to a shared third party rather than a direct relationship. It’s about the network, not the direct connection.
How the Sunglasses Emoji Is Triggered
Snapchat uses emoji algorithms to calculate status changes based on activity. The sunglasses emoji specifically gets triggered when:
- You and the other user both frequently snap a mutual friend.
- That mutual friend is one of the Best Friends for both of you (top 8 closest friends according to Snapchat’s algorithm).
- There is enough consistent interaction over time with that mutual friend for Snapchat to recognize the pattern.
Once these conditions are met, the sunglasses emoji will appear, symbolizing that you are part of a shared inner circle.
Why This Emoji Matters
While it may seem trivial, emoji appearances on Snapchat are often used by users to understand and navigate their social dynamics. Seeing the 😎 emoji can help Snapchatters know:
- Who’s interacting in similar circles.
- Whether your close friends are close to others, too.
- If someone else might be snapping your best friend just as often as you are.
This kind of insight can fuel everything from group snaps to deeper insights into one’s social interactions on the app. It adds a layer of gamification and fun to understanding who talks to whom.
Can You Control the Sunglasses Emoji?
If you’d like to prevent or influence when the sunglasses emoji appears, you could theoretically change your snapping behavior:
- Snap different people more often to shift your Best Friends list.
- Reduce interactions with the mutual friend causing the emoji.
- Increase or decrease your interactions with certain people to naturally manipulate friendship rankings.
However, Snapchat intentionally keeps the formula for friendship emojis somewhat opaque. It’s meant to reflect organic usage rather than encourage gaming the system.
Customizing Friend Emojis
If the default sunglasses emoji doesn’t suit your preference, there’s an option in Snapchat’s settings to customize friend emojis to something that resonates more with your personal style. Here’s how:
- Open the Snapchat app.
- Tap your Bitmoji or profile icon at the top.
- Go to Settings (the gear icon).
- Scroll down and select Customize Emojis.
- Tap on “Mutual Besties” or “Shared Best Friend” and choose your preferred emoji.
This lets you keep track of interactions while using symbols that are more meaningful or aesthetically pleasing to you.
Conclusion
The 😎 sunglasses emoji on Snapchat is more than a fun icon — it’s a clue into your social interactions on the app. While it doesn’t indicate your direct relationship with someone, it does reveal that you both are closely connected to the same person, suggesting overlapping circles. As part of Snapchat’s broader language of emojis, it serves as a subtle but powerful tool for understanding your digital connections.
FAQ
What does the 😎 sunglasses emoji mean on Snapchat?
It means you and that person both have a close mutual friend — someone you both snap frequently, who appears on each of your Best Friends lists.
Can the sunglasses emoji mean we’re best friends?
No, not necessarily. It doesn’t indicate that you and the person are best friends. Instead, it refers to a shared connection to a third person.
Can I change the sunglasses emoji to something else?
Yes, you can go into Settings > Customize Emojis and select a different emoji to represent mutual best friends.
How long does it take for the emoji to appear?
It depends on snap volume and frequency. If both of you regularly snap the same person over a consistent period, the emoji will appear organically.
Does the emoji disappear?
Yes, if snapping behavior changes significantly (e.g., you stop snapping the mutual friend), the sunglasses emoji will eventually vanish as your friend rankings adjust.
