Best What Does Following Mean on Snapchat in 2025

Snapchat has continued to evolve in 2025, and with its growing list of features, many users are still wondering what exactly “Following” means on the platform. Unlike older social media networks, Snapchat’s connections are based on mutual interaction, privacy, and how you choose to engage with others. 

The “Following” label can mean different things depending on your relationship with the person and how your privacy settings are configured. Understanding how “Following” works on Snapchat in 2025 is key to managing your friends list, story views, and privacy. 

Whether you’re curious why someone appears under “Following,” unsure if they follow you back, or trying to clean up your feed, this guide will break down everything you need to know. Let’s clear up the confusion and help you navigate Snapchat’s latest social features with confidence.

Understanding “Following” on Snapchat

In 2025, Snapchat’s “Following” system remains fundamentally different from other social media platforms. When you “follow” someone on Snapchat, it means you have sent them a friend request, but they haven’t accepted it yet. This creates a one-way connection that limits your interaction with that person.

Here’s how the following system works on Snapchat:

When you add someone first

• You are now “following” them
• They will see your friend request in their “Added Me” section
• Your connection status shows as “Pending” until they add you back
• You can send them snaps and messages, but they will remain in a pending state
• You can only see their public stories, not private ones

When they add you back

• The connection becomes mutual
• You both become “friends” rather than just follower/following
• Full interaction capabilities are unlocked
• You can see each other’s private stories and send direct snaps

If they don’t add you back

• You remain as someone who is “following” them
• Your access to their content stays limited
• Any snaps or messages you send will continue to show as “Pending”

This system ensures that both users have control over who can fully interact with them on the platform, maintaining privacy and security.

Key Differences Between “Following” and “Friends” on Snapchat

Understanding the distinction between following someone and being friends with them is crucial for navigating Snapchat effectively in 2025. Here’s a detailed comparison:

Feature	Following	Friends
Story Access	Public stories only	Both public and private stories
Snap Delivery	Remains pending	Delivered immediately
Chat Functionality	Limited (messages pending)	Full chat access
Notification Priority	Lower priority	Higher priority notifications
Snap Map Visibility	Not visible	Can see location (if enabled)
Snapchat Score	Cannot view	Can view their score
Bitmoji Interaction	Limited	Full bitmoji features
Group Addition	Cannot add to groups	Can add to group chats

Following Status Indicators

• Messages show “Pending” underneath
• Snaps appear with a gray arrow instead of colored
• Their Snapchat score is not visible to you
• You cannot see when they were last active

Friends Status Indicators

• Messages deliver normally with colored arrows
• You can see their Snapchat score
• Last seen status is visible (if enabled)
• Full story access with view counts

How to Know If Someone is Following You on Snapchat?

Snapchat doesn’t send direct notifications when someone starts following you, but there are several ways to identify your followers in 2025:

Check Your “Added Me” Section

1. Open Snapchat and swipe down from the camera screen
2. Tap on “Added Me” near the top of your profile
3. Anyone listed here is following you but you haven’t added them back
4. You’ll see their username and how they found you (Quick Add, username search, etc.)

Look for Pending Messages

• If someone sends you a snap or message while following you, it will appear in your chat list
• These messages will have a notification but won’t be delivered until you add them back
• You can preview the message without opening it

Snapchat Score Visibility Test

• If you can see someone’s Snapchat score, they have added you back
• If you cannot see their score, you’re only following them (one-way connection)
• This is one of the quickest ways to check mutual friendship status

Story Viewer Lists

• Check who views your public stories
• Followers who haven’t been added back will still appear in your story viewers
• Their names will appear in the viewer list even without mutual friendship

Search Function

• Use Snapchat’s search function to look up specific usernames
• If someone is following you, their profile will show “Added Me” when you search for them

Managing Your Followers on Snapchat

Effective follower management is essential for maintaining your privacy and ensuring a positive Snapchat experience in 2025. Here are the key steps to manage your followers:

1. Check Who You Are Following

To see who you’re following but who hasn’t added you back:

Step-by-Step Process

1. Open Snapchat and tap on your profile icon (Bitmoji) in the top-left corner
2. Scroll down and tap on “My Friends”
3. Look for usernames with “Pending” next to them
4. These are people you’re following who haven’t added you back yet
5. You can tap on their names to view their profiles or remove them

What You’ll See

• A list of all your connections
• Clear indicators showing “Pending” status
• Option to remove or block users
• Last interaction timestamps

Regular Maintenance Tips

• Review your pending list monthly
• Remove inactive or unresponsive accounts
• Clean up old requests that haven’t been accepted

2. Remove Someone You’re Following

If you no longer want to follow someone who hasn’t added you back:

Method 1: Through Friends List

1. Go to your Friends list as described above
2. Find the person you want to remove
3. Tap and hold on their name
4. Select “Remove Friend” from the popup menu
5. Confirm your decision

Method 2: Through Their Profile

1. Search for their username in the search bar
2. Tap on their profile
3. Tap on the three dots menu
4. Select “Remove Friend”
5. Confirm the removal

Method 3: Through Chat

1. Find their chat in your messages
2. Tap and hold on the conversation
3. Select “More” from the menu
4. Choose “Remove Friend”

What Happens When You Remove

• They won’t be notified of the removal
• Any pending snaps or messages will be deleted
• You’ll no longer appear in their “Added Me” section
• You can re-add them later if desired

3. Adjust Your Privacy Settings

Controlling who can follow and contact you is crucial for maintaining privacy:

Who Can Contact Me

1. Go to Settings (gear icon in your profile)
2. Scroll to “Who Can…” section
3. Tap on “Contact Me”
4. Choose from: Everyone, My Friends, or Custom

Who Can View My Story

1. In Settings, find “View My Story”
2. Options include: Everyone, My Friends, Custom, or Only Me
3. You can also create custom friend lists for story viewing

Who Can See Me in Quick Add

1. Navigate to “See Me in Quick Add” in Settings
2. Toggle this off if you don’t want strangers finding you easily
3. This reduces random follow requests

Who Can See My Location

1. Go to “See My Location” in Settings
2. Choose who can see you on Snap Map
3. Options: My Friends, Select Friends, or Ghost Mode (invisible)

Additional Privacy Controls

• Enable “Only Friends Can Contact Me” to avoid spam
• Turn on “Suggest My Account” restrictions
• Configure notification settings for follow requests
• Set up two-factor authentication for account security

Common Scenarios and Texting Examples

Here are practical examples of how Snapchat’s following system works in real conversations:

Scenario 1: Friend asking about pending messages

Friend: “Hey, why isn’t my message going through to you?”

You: “Your message is showing as pending because I haven’t added you back yet on Snapchat. Let me add you now! 😊”

Scenario 2: Explaining the following concept

Friend: “I’m confused about Snapchat. What does it mean when someone is following me?”

You: “Following on Snapchat means they added you as a friend, but you haven’t added them back yet. It’s like a friend request waiting for approval!”

Scenario 3: Can’t see private stories

Friend: “Why can’t I see your story? I added you!”

You: “You can only see my private stories if we’re mutual friends. Check if I’ve added you back – if not, you’ll only see my public stories.”

Scenario 4: Snap delivery issues

Friend: “My snap to you is still pending. What’s wrong?”

You: “Pending snaps mean I haven’t added you back as a friend yet. Once I do, you’ll be able to send snaps normally! 📱”

Scenario 5: Managing unwanted followers

Friend: “Someone I don’t know is following me. What should I do?”

You: “Don’t add them back if you don’t know them. You can also block them by going to their profile and selecting block. Stay safe!”

Scenario 6: Checking follower status

Friend: “How do I know if someone is following me?”

You: “Check your ‘Added Me’ section in your profile. Anyone listed there is following you but you haven’t added them back.”

Scenario 7: Mutual friend confirmation

Friend: “How do I know if we’re actually friends now?”

You: “If you can see my Snapchat score and my snaps deliver immediately (not pending), then we’re mutual friends! 🎉”

Scenario 8: Privacy concerns

Friend: “I don’t want random people following me. How do I stop this?”

You: “Go to Settings > ‘Who Can Contact Me’ and change it to ‘My Friends Only’. Also turn off ‘See Me in Quick Add’.”

Scenario 9: Removing followers

Friend: “This person added me but I don’t want to add them back. Will they know?”

You: “No, they won’t get notified if you don’t add them back. You can also remove/block them if needed.”

Scenario 10: Story visibility confusion

Friend: “I posted a story but some people can’t see it. Why?”

You: “Check your story settings! If it’s set to ‘Friends Only’, people who are just following you (not mutual friends) can’t see it.”

Scenario 11: Multiple account management

Friend: “I have two Snapchat accounts. Can people follow both?”

You: “Yes, each account is separate. Someone might follow one account but not the other. Manage each account’s followers independently.”

Scenario 12: Group chat limitations

Friend: “Why can’t I add someone to our group chat?”

You: “You can only add mutual friends to group chats. If you’re just following them or they’re just following you, it won’t work.”

Conclusion

Understanding Snapchat’s “Following” system in 2025 remains essential for anyone looking to make the most of this unique social media platform. Unlike other social networks where following is often one-directional and immediate, Snapchat’s approach prioritizes mutual consent and privacy.

As Snapchat continues to evolve, the core concept of following versus friends remains consistent, emphasizing user control and privacy. By understanding these mechanics and utilizing the management tools available, you can create a more secure and enjoyable Snapchat experience.