Snapchat turns off controversial ‘Solar System’ feature by default after bad press

Snapchat has responded to feedback regarding the Solar System feature by turning it off by default. This feature previously ranked paid subscribers based on their closeness to their Snapchat friends, displaying positions like 'Mercury' for close friends and 'Uranus' for those not as close. Now, Snapchat+ subscribers can choose to turn this option on if they desire.

Snapchat decided against removing the Solar System feature entirely because it aims to strike a balance between providing a feature that is desired by many users while avoiding upsetting those who do not wish to use it. The company believes that by turning the feature off by default, it provides a choice to users, allowing those who want to use it to turn it on, and preventing any potential distress for those who do not.

To turn on the Solar System feature on Snapchat, Snapchat+ subscribers need to dig around in the settings since the feature is now turned off by default. Subscribers who want to use the feature can manually enable it from the options provided within the app.

Snapchat's friend ranking systems, such as the Solar System feature and Streaks, have been controversial because they are seen as ways to keep young people, a demographic sensitive to social hierarchy, addicted to using Snapchat. These features have been criticized for contributing to anxiety and negative psychological effects among teens. The Solar System feature has led to hurt feelings and tough conversations when users realize they are not as close to someone as they thought. Streaks have been debated for their addictive nature, prompting backlash from parents, lawmakers, and regulators.

In response to the backlash over the addictive nature of its features, Snapchat has introduced ways to mitigate the potential downsides. For the Streaks feature, which represents how many consecutive days users have communicated, Snapchat added the ability to pause streaks and restore a lost Streak. These changes are part of Snapchat's commitment to mitigating the potential downsides of online communication.