the "Best Friends" feature on Snapchat has gone through various changes over the years, and the specific algorithm and criteria for determining best friends might have evolved since then. It's important to note that Snapchat's features can vary based on updates and user feedback.
At its core, the Best Friends list on Snapchat is a feature that shows the people you interact with the most frequently on the platform. In the past, the Best Friends list was visible to anyone who viewed your profile, which led to privacy concerns for many users. To address this, Snapchat introduced certain privacy settings that allow users to hide their Best Friends list or limit its visibility to only themselves.
The algorithm behind the Best Friends list took into account various factors to determine the individuals who appeared there, including:
- The frequency and consistency of snaps sent and received with a particular user.
- The number of times you and a friend interacted with each other, such as sending snaps, chatting, or viewing each other's stories.
- The recency of your interactions - more recent interactions were given more weight.
Snapchat's algorithm is proprietary, and the company hasn't publicly disclosed all the details of how Best Friends are calculated to prevent gaming the system.
As for when your best friends change, it can happen in real-time as you interact with different users on the platform. If you consistently engage with one user more than others, they may become your best friend on Snapchat. Similarly, if your interactions with a particular user decrease over time or if you start interacting more with someone else, the Best Friends list can change accordingly.
Keep in mind that Snapchat continues to update and refine its features, so it's always a good idea to check the app settings or refer to the latest Snapchat support documentation to understand the most current functionality related to Best Friends.