What Does the Grey Circle on Snapchat Mean?

Have you ever seen a grey circle on Snapchat and wondered what it meant? There are various different features on the app that indicate how you can make the most of it, and notifications that pop up to let you know what’s happening.

By understanding what that grey circle means when it pops up in your message box or profile page, you can make smarter decisions when using Snapchat – so, let’s get into it.

Understanding the Grey Circle: What It Represents on Snapchat

On Snapchat, a grey circle (or more accurately described as a grey outline of a circle) around a friend’s story or around a snap indicates that the story or snap has already been viewed.

Once you’ve watched a friend’s story or opened a snap, the filled-in color (like purple or red) disappears, leaving only the grey outline to signify that it has been viewed.

Snapchat uses a variety of colors to signify different types of snaps and the status of those snaps. Here’s what the various colors mean:

  1. Red Circle (Filled): This signifies a snap that does not contain an audio element and is waiting for you to view it. It might be a picture or a silent video.
  2. Red Circle with a white triangle (Play Button): This indicates a snap with no audio that has been opened but not watched in its entirety.
  3. Purple Circle (Filled): This indicates a snap that contains audio, like a video with sound, waiting for you to view it.
  4. Purple Circle with a white triangle (Play Button): This represents a snap that has audio and has been opened but not watched fully.
  5. Blue Circle (Filled): Represents a chat message from a friend.
  6. Green Circle (Filled): This is less common, but it indicates that you’ve received a snap from a friend who uses a “cameo”, a personalized sticker.
  7. Grey Circle (Outline): As previously mentioned, this signifies that you have already viewed the snap or story.

These are the primary circle indicators on Snapchat, and they help users easily differentiate between various types of content.

However, it’s always a good idea to keep the app updated and periodically check Snapchat’s official documentation or user guides for any changes or additions to their UI and features.

Mastering Snapchat Features: Other Symbols You Should Know About

If you’re passionate about Snapchat, you’ve undoubtedly seen the various symbols that appear next to your friends’ names or on their snaps.

But do you know what each of these icons represents? In this article, we’ll go over some of the lesser-known Snapchat symbols and explain what they mean.

The first symbol we’ll discuss is the blue chat bubble with a white arrow inside it.

This icon indicates that one of your chat messages has been sent but not yet opened by the recipient.

If they open it, the bubble will turn gray with a checkmark inside it. So if you see this symbol next to someone’s name and can’t remember what message you sent them, now you know!

Another symbol worth noting is the “birthday cake” emoji which appears beside a friend’s name on their birthday.

It’s an excellent way to remember birthdays so that you can reach out and send them good wishes on their special day!

Lastly, there’s also an hourglass symbol representing Snapstreaks – which are when two people have snapped each other for at least three consecutive days in a row.

The hourglass means your streak may end soon if neither person sends another snap within 24 hours – it’s like a ticking clock reminding you to keep up your streak.

Taking advantage of all features available on Snapchat requires more than just tapping around – knowing these symbols will help avoid confusion while getting more out of using Snapchat.

Conclusion

Snapchat’s ever-evolving interface is a testament to its commitment to user experience, with its color-coded system being a prime example.

The grey circle, in particular, serves as a subtle yet effective indicator of viewed content, ensuring users can effortlessly navigate their feeds and discern which snaps or stories they’ve already engaged with.

In the fast-paced world of social media, such intuitive cues are paramount.

While Snapchat employs a range of colors for various notifications, the grey circle stands as a universal symbol of completion, reminding users of their interactions and enhancing the platform’s user-friendliness.

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Author

Matt

Matt is a self confessed Otaku with a keen interest in anime and Japanese culture. He uses a variety of social media platforms like TikTok and Snapchat, and when he's not playing with his phone he's usually reading through Seinen manga like One-Punch Man.

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