So, you’ve been scrolling through your Snapchat and noticed some brand-new icons popping up beside your friends’ names, right? Wondering, what do the new icons on Snapchat mean? Fear not! You’re not alone in this emoji-emoji avalanche. These little symbols are Snapchat’s way of adding spice and mystery to your chat and Snap game. Let’s break down what these fresh icons actually mean, where they came from, and how you can use them to flex in your conversations. Buckle up! 🚀
Origin: Why The New Icons On Snapchat?
Snapchat is constantly evolving—if you’ve used it over the past few years, you know the streaks, the trophies, and the classic yellow and red hearts. Well, the new icons are Snapchat’s latest update to keep users engaged and bring some fresh lingo to the app. These symbols represent your interactions, friendship levels, and sometimes just cheeky in-jokes based on how you chat or Snap each other.
Basically, Snapchat wants to gamify your social life even more. 🤳 These icons originated from tracking how often you communicate or the vibe between you and your friend, like mutual vibes or special Snap streaks. They’re a visual shorthand—no one wants to read a novel in DMs, right?
What Do The New Icons On Snapchat Mean?
Okay, here’s the meat and potatoes. You might spot:
- Ghost with sunglasses 😎: This one means you and your friend are both #CoolKids on Snap and keep things low-key but consistent.
- Glowing sparkles ✨: Your chats are extra lively! Your friend might be sending you snaps with filters or you two are just vibing emotionally.
- Hourglass ⏳: The classic countdown! Your Snap streak is about to end if you don’t snap back soon.
- Fire emoji 🔥 … with a little twist: Shows your streak, but the twist indicates a ‘hot streak’—like, you haven’t missed a snap for ages, and the streak just leveled up to legendary status.
- Smiling face with hearts 🥰: Grew out of TikTok-savvy slang, represents you and your friend being “close” or supportive in chats.
- Random Quirky Icon: Some days you’ll see winks, sunglasses, or even sunglasses-wearing baby faces. These are Snapchat’s playful Easter eggs based on trends and social media culture.
Here’s a quick real-life chat snippet to get you on the vibe:
Alex: Hey did you see the ghost with sunglasses next to Jamie? What’s that?
You: That means you two are basically Snapchat celebrities or like VIP friends. Love that vibe. 😎
How To Use These New Icons
Now that you know what do the new icons on Snapchat mean, the question is: how to use them? Honestly, these icons are mostly automatic, but you can influence them by:
- Snapping regularly: Keep streaks alive! The more snaps, the more fire icons and the longer your streaks get.
- Using filters and lenses: That glowing sparkle pops up when you get creative with your snaps.
- Chatting back: Quick replies and emoji reactions help nurture your ‘close friends’ icons.
Swipe over to your friend’s profile and see what icon you’re rocking today. Then try a cheeky message:
“Hey, I see that sparkling vibe—it’s like we’re stars now. Should we collab on a Lens? ✨”
Etiquette: What To Do (and Not Do) With These Icons
These icons feel fun, but it’s good to know the unwritten Snapchat rules around them so you don’t accidentally insult someone’s streak or friendship level.
- Do: Celebrate your streaks and friendship icons! It’s a cute way to say “we see you.”
- Don’t: Obsess or guilt-trip friends into keeping streaks alive. Nobody enjoys feeling pressured to Snap every day.
- Do: Use the icons as convo starters, not as social scoreboards.
- Don’t: Ignore the icons completely—they’re designed to boost engagement, so playing along is half the fun!
Funny Ways The New Icons On Snapchat Pop Up Online
In true meme culture, the Snapchat icon codes have spawned heaps of jokes and downright hilarious reactions. Like:
- People pretending they’re psychic reading their “friendship aura” based on who gets the glowing sparkle ✨.
- The classic panic when someone spots the hourglass ⏳ and jokingly threatens eternal Snapchat exile if you don’t snap back ASAP. 😂
- Memes imagining the ghost with sunglasses 😎 as the Snapchat ‘boss level’—like you’ve unlocked secret chat boss fights.
- DMs where people send the icons themselves like secret codes: “🔥🔥 We’re on fire!” “⏳ Snap me before it expires!”
Here’s a cheeky example from Twitter:
@SnapLifeHack: ‘‘Why you always gotta hit me with that hourglass when I’m binge-watching Netflix? Chill, I got snacks 🍿! #SnapchatIconDrama’’
All in all, the new icons on Snapchat mean more than just symbols; they’re fun ways to connect, signal friendships, and bring some spice to your digital life. Next time you see a weird emoji next to your bestie, you’ll know exactly what it means—and maybe flex a little in your DMs.
Got a screenshot of a wild new icon? Drop it in your next snap and caption it: “Decode this!” You’ll have your friends guessing and laughing in no time. Happy Snapping! 👻✨
