› Forums › Cybersecurity & Privacy › What does “following” actually mean on Snapchat?
- This topic has 7 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 1 month ago by
Gerald Daley.
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Hey there, I’ve noticed that Snapchat has the “following” label and it’s a little confusing compared to Instagram or Twitter. On those platforms, following someone means you’ll see all their posts. But Snapchat has its own way of handling friends, subscriptions, and following. Sometimes I see people listed under “subscriptions,” sometimes under “friends,” and then there’s the “following” thing that makes me wonder what the difference really is. Does following someone on Snapchat mean they also have to follow me back? Or is it just one-sided like YouTube subscriptions? I’ve also heard that celebrities or public profiles work differently. Can anyone here break it down clearly? I’d really appreciate your insight—sometimes these small features change the way we interact online, so it’s worth understanding.
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Hey! On Snapchat, “following” is one-way. You’ll see their stories or updates, but unless they add you back, you won’t get full “friend” access.
Snapchat’s wording trips people up. Following = subscription. You’re just watching their stuff. Friends = mutual connection. The app keeps it separate so you know who’s engaging with you back and who’s just someone you’re following for content.
I learned this the hard way when I added someone from work. I thought we were “friends,” but it turned out I was only following them. They never added me back, so I only saw their public snaps under “subscriptions.”
Following means you see their content but aren’t friends yet. If they add you back, the status changes to “friends.” Until then, it stays one-way, like a subscription.
Snapchat’s wording trips people up. Following = subscription. You’re just watching their stuff. Friends = mutual connection. The app keeps it separate so you know who’s engaging with you back and who’s just someone you’re following for content.
Hey! On Snapchat, “following” is one-way. You’ll see their stories or updates, but unless they add you back, you won’t get full “friend” access.
I learned this the hard way when I added someone from work. I thought we were “friends,” but it turned out I was only following them. They never added me back, so I only saw their public snaps under “subscriptions.”
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