Snapchat's friend emoji are automatic, not chosen

Unlike most platforms, the emoji next to a friend's name on Snapchat aren't ones you pick yourself — the app assigns them automatically based on how often you snap that person compared to your other friends, and they update as your habits change.

The core friendship emoji

A yellow heart means you and that person are currently each other's #1 best friend; a red heart means you've held that #1 spot together for two straight weeks; and pink hearts mean the streak of being #1 friends has lasted two months or more — the Super BFF badge.

Smiley, sunglasses, and grimace

A smiling face means you snap that person a lot, but they're not your #1; sunglasses mean you share a best friend with them; and a grimacing face means your own #1 best friend is also their #1 — a small, often funny, signal of a shared friend group.

Streak icons: fire, hourglass, and 100

A fire emoji next to a name marks an active Snapstreak, with a number showing how many days running; an hourglass is a warning that the streak is about to expire if you don't send a snap soon; and a 100 emoji appears once a streak hits its hundredth day.

Birthday, star, and baby icons

A birthday cake shows on a friend's actual birthday if they've added it to their profile; a gold star means someone has replayed your snaps recently; and a baby emoji marks a brand-new friendship that hasn't built up much snap history yet.

Why your emoji might look different from a friend's

Because these emoji are based on your own snapping habits, not a shared score, the icon you see next to someone's name can be completely different from the one they see next to yours — it's entirely possible to be their #1 while they're only one of several people you snap regularly.