Snapchat & Instagram Symbols Meaning
Ever wondered what the yellow heart 💛, hourglass ⌛, fire 🔥, or green circle 🟢 mean next to someone's name or story? Find every icon explained below.
Yellow Heart Emoji
The yellow heart on Snapchat means you are "#1 Best Friends" (Besties) with each other. You send the most snaps to this person, and they send the most snaps to you.
This symbol only appears when the affection is completely mutual. If you send them the most snaps but they send more snaps to someone else, the yellow heart will not appear.
Red Heart Emoji
The red heart indicates that you and this person have remained "#1 Best Friends" (Besties) continuously for two straight weeks.
It is an upgraded tier of the Yellow Heart. Keeping this status requires maintaining consistent mutual daily communication.
Two Pink Hearts (Super BFF)
Two pink hearts on Snapchat signify "Super BFF". It means you have been each other's #1 Best Friend for two months in a row.
This is the highest friendship tier on Snapchat and represents a dedicated, daily texting bond among close friends or partners.
Fire (Snapstreak)
The fire emoji next to a contact’s name indicates a "Snapstreak". It means you and this friend have sent each other a photo or video snap at least once every 24 hours for consecutive days.
The number next to the fire shows how many consecutive days the streak has lasted (e.g. 🔥 365 = one full year). Text chats do not count toward maintaining a streak.
Hourglass Emoji
The hourglass means your Snapstreak with this person is about to expire! You have only a few hours left to send a photo or video snap to keep the streak alive.
It typically appears around the 20-hour mark of the 24-hour cycle. Both users must exchange a snap to make the hourglass vanish.
Grimacing Face Emoji
The grimace emoji means "Mutual Besties": your #1 Best Friend on Snapchat is also their #1 Best Friend. You are competing for the same person’s top spot!
This often triggers funny teenage drama because it reveals that you and this contact are both messaging the exact same third friend more than anyone else.
Sunglasses Emoji (Mutual BFs)
The sunglasses emoji means you share a close Best Friend with this person. One of your top 8 best friends is also one of their top 8 best friends.
Indicates mutual friend circles and overlapping social connections on Snapchat.
Padlock Icon Around Story
A padlock around a Snapchat story means it is a "Private Story" (Custom Story) that the creator only shared with a handpicked group of select friends.
If you can see a locked story, you were specifically added to that person’s VIP circle. Teens often use private stories to share raw thoughts or funny memes away from family.
Green Circle Around Story
A green ring around someone's Instagram profile picture indicates a "Close Friends" story. Only users on the creator’s private Close Friends list can view it.
It signals trust and intimacy. Users post unfiltered, candid, or personal updates to their Close Friends list rather than the public.
Pink / Purple Gradient Ring
The standard colorful gradient ring indicates an unviewed Instagram Story posted within the last 24 hours that you have not yet watched.
Once viewed, the ring changes to muted grey or disappears until a new story is uploaded.
Blue Verified Badge
The blue checkmark on TikTok confirms that TikTok has verified the account belongs to the authentic public figure, celebrity, or registered brand it represents.
Prevents impersonation of high-profile creators. Cannot be bought easily on TikTok without meeting strict media notability criteria.