How to follow someone on Snapchat

Following someone on Snapchat means subscribing to their public Stories, not sending a friend request. You can follow any account whose profile is public, and they do not have to follow you back. Here is how to follow someone by username, Snapcode or Quick Add, and what to check in your privacy settings while you do it.

What following means on Snapchat

Snapchat treats friends and followers differently. A friend is a two-way connection: you can send each other snaps and chat. A follower only sees public content, which is why celebrities, brands and public figures use the follow model. Businesses set their accounts to public precisely so anyone can follow them without approval.

Follow someone by username

Open Snapchat and tap the search icon at the top of the camera screen. Type the exact username of the person or business you want to follow and select the profile that appears. On the profile, tap the Follow button. If the account is private you will see Add Friend instead, and your request waits for their approval.

Follow someone with a Snapcode

Snapcode is the yellow QR-style code attached to every profile. Point your camera at it from inside the app, or take a photo and scan it from your camera roll, and the profile opens with a follow button ready. Businesses print Snapcodes on posters, receipts and packaging so customers can follow them without typing a username.

Follow someone with Quick Add

Quick Add is Snapchat's suggestion list of accounts it thinks you know, based on mutual friends and contacts. Open your profile, tap Add Friends, and tap the add icon next to any suggested account. It is the fastest way to follow people you know in real life when you are new to the app.

How to unfollow someone

If you change your mind, open the profile, tap the menu at the top right and choose Unfollow or Remove Friend. Unfollowing is one-way: the other person is not notified, and you simply stop seeing their Stories. You can follow again at any time.

Privacy settings to check

Following someone does not make your own account public. Your snaps and Story stay visible only to the people your privacy settings allow. In Settings you can choose who can contact you, who can view your Story, and whether you appear in Quick Add. If you want to be hard to find, set your account to private and turn off Quick Add.

Why businesses use Snapchat

Snapchat is not the right channel for every business, but it is a strong one for brands with a younger audience or a visual product. Stories, lenses and location filters keep a business in front of followers without the pressure of a polished feed, and a public profile makes it easy for customers to follow and stay connected. Our explainer on Snapchat covers the platform in more depth: https://victory.digital/help-advice/what-is-snapchat

If you would like help deciding whether Snapchat belongs in your social media mix, we plan, create and manage content across the platforms that fit your audience. Social media management is included in our digital marketing packages from GBP 849 per month: https://victory.digital/digital-marketing-packages