What Does the Number by Snapchat Username Mean
Learn what the number by a Snapchat username means, how Snap Score is calculated, factors that influence it, and tips to boost your engagement.
Understanding Snapchat’s Interface and Symbols
Snapchat is among the most popular social media platforms for teens and young adults, recognized for its camera-first design, colorful icons, and array of unique symbols. These visual elements—from streak emojis to trophies—track activity and interactions in creative ways.
If you’ve ever paused to wonder, _what does the number by Snapchat username mean_, you’re not alone. This mysterious figure, visible on your profile and sometimes next to friends’ names, often sparks curiosity. In this guide, we’ll break down its meaning, explain how it’s calculated, and share tips for managing or boosting it.
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The Number by a Snapchat Username: Snap Score
That number you see under your username is your Snap Score—Snapchat’s internal metric for quantifying your engagement on the app.
Access it by tapping your profile icon: you’ll spot your Bitmoji or avatar, display name, username, and the Snap Score just below. When visiting a friend’s profile, you may see theirs too—unless they’ve chosen to keep it private.
Essentially, Snap Score is Snapchat’s scoreboard for your activity, reflecting how much you interact with people and content.
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How Snap Score Is Calculated
Snapchat keeps its exact scoring formula secret, but user experimentation and observation have revealed several likely contributing factors.
Known Contributors
- Snaps Sent: Sending a photo or video snap to any friend.
- Snaps Received: Receiving and opening snaps from friends.
- Posting Stories: Sharing content publicly or privately via Stories.
- Discover Content: Possibly watching and engaging with videos in Snapchat Discover.
- Returning After Inactivity: You may receive a small score boost upon returning to the app after a break.
Snapchat awards points for sending and receiving snaps, extra points for stories, and might include other engagement signals behind the scenes.
Possible Point Allocation
While Snapchat hasn’t confirmed point values, community consensus suggests:
| Action | Estimated Score Change |
|---|---|
| Send a Snap to 1 friend | +1 |
| Receive a Snap | +1 |
| Post to Story | +1 (sometimes +2) |
| Send a chat message | 0 |
| View Discover content | Varies (likely no direct effect) |
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What Increases or Decreases Snap Score
Your Snap Score tends to increase when:
- You send frequent snaps to friends.
- You receive daily snaps from multiple contacts.
- You post stories regularly.
- You return after periods of inactivity.
Snap Scores generally don’t decrease. A drop could signal a glitch, data refresh, or account problem. Snapchat doesn’t deduct points for inactivity—your score simply stays the same.
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Myths and Misconceptions About Snapchat Numbers
Common myths include:
- “Snap Score shows how much someone likes you.”
- False—Snap Score measures activity, not emotional connection.
- “Typing in chat increases your score.”
- Incorrect. Text chats have no impact.
- “Opening Snaps without replying lowers your score.”
- Not true—only certain actions boost it.
- “Third-party apps can raise your Snap Score instantly.”
- Risky and against the rules—unauthorized apps can lead to suspension.
Understanding what’s true helps ensure you use Snapchat safely and effectively.
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How to See Yours and Your Friends’ Snap Scores
Follow these steps to view your Snap Score:
- Open Snapchat.
- Tap your Bitmoji/profile icon in the top-left corner.
- Find your Snap Score beneath your username.
- Tap the score for a breakdown of snaps sent and received.
To view a friend’s score:
- Open their profile via their Bitmoji in chat or your friend list.
- If public, it will appear under their username; if hidden, you won’t see it.
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Why Snap Score Matters (or Doesn’t)
Snap Score can be a fun way to monitor your Snapchat engagement, but its importance varies.
Reasons It Might Matter
- Friendly competitions with friends.
- Personal tracking of app usage.
- Icebreaker in conversations.
Reasons It Probably Doesn’t
- No effect on visibility or rankings.
- Doesn’t measure friendship quality.
- Snapchat avoids public leaderboards.
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Can You Hide Your Snap Score? Privacy Options
Snapchat lets you hide your Snap Score from non-friends—but not from those on your friend list unless you remove or block them.
To adjust profile visibility:
- Tap Settings (gear icon).
- Under “Who Can…”, set preferences for Contact Me, View My Story, and See My Location.
- Remove or block friends to restrict score visibility.
Maintaining a trusted friends list is the best way to safeguard this info.
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Tips to Increase Your Snap Score Legitimately
If you want your Snap Score to grow naturally:
- Send photo/video snaps daily to different contacts.
- Open all received snaps promptly.
- Update your Story often, even with short clips.
- Limit text-only chats—they won’t add to your score.
- Return after breaks to benefit from comeback bonuses.
Quality, genuine engagement always beats spam.
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Summary and Final Thoughts
The number beside your Snapchat username—your Snap Score—is an activity tracker based on snaps sent, snaps received, and stories posted. While Snapchat keeps its formula under wraps, consistent visual interaction is the surest way to increase it.
Key takeaways:
- Snap Score is for fun and tracking engagement.
- It’s not a measure of relationship strength.
- Avoid unsafe methods and third-party apps.
- Use privacy settings to control who can view it.
Whether you aim to increase your Snap Score or ignore it altogether, knowing what does the number by Snapchat username mean ensures you use the platform with confidence.
Try exploring your Snap Score today—and decide if it’s your next friendly competition or just a quirky stat to glance at now and then!
