What does the green dot mean on Snapchat?

This topic has 4 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 1 month, 2 weeks ago by editor11122.

Post

- September 15, 2025 at 5:43 am
Marcus
Participant

Hey everyone, I’ve been noticing this little green dot pop up on Snapchat next to some of my friends’ names, and I’m a bit confused about it. At first, I thought it meant they were online and looking at my profile, but then I realized that can’t be the whole story. I know other apps like Instagram and Facebook use similar “active status” indicators, but Snapchat doesn’t explain it very clearly in the app itself. So what does that green dot actually mean? Is it just showing that someone is online right now, or does it tell you more, like if they’re active in chats or watching stories? And can you turn it off if you don’t want people to see you’re online?

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Replies

- September 15, 2025 at 5:44 am
Alex
Participant

The green dot just means a person is currently active on Snapchat. It’s Snapchat’s version of an “online” indicator. It doesn’t show if they’re looking at your profile or content specifically.
- September 15, 2025 at 5:45 am
Sophia
Participant

When I first noticed the green dot, I panicked a little because I thought it meant people could see every time I was lurking on their stories. One time, I was checking Snap late at night and saw the dot on a friend’s name — they texted me right away like “I saw you’re online, why aren’t you replying?” That was stressful. I dug into the settings and found out it’s just an activity status, nothing more. It doesn’t broadcast what you’re doing, only that you’re on the app at that moment. Eventually, I decided to turn off “Show Activity Status” under settings so nobody could see me online. Honestly, it gave me way more peace of mind. Now I can scroll without anyone keeping tabs on me. Lesson learned: don’t overthink the dot — it’s not as deep as it seems.
- September 15, 2025 at 5:46 am
Luna
Participant

The green dot functions as a presence indicator, signaling that a user is active within Snapchat at that time. This feature mirrors broader digital design trends, where platforms employ real-time visibility tools to increase engagement and immediacy in communication. Importantly, it reflects only app activity, not specific behaviors, and users retain control via privacy settings.
- September 15, 2025 at 5:47 am
editor11122
Keymaster

It’s just Snapchat saying “hey, they’re online rn.” Doesn’t mean they’re creeping your page. Don’t stress it 😂