So What Exactly Does "Opened" Mean on Snapchat?

Have you ever sent a Snap and been unsure if your friend actually saw it or not? We‘ve all been there!

The opened feature on Snapchat solves this mystery. Those little icons next to your Snaps indicate when they‘ve been viewed.

But with different colored arrows and squares, Snapchat‘s opened icon system can be confusing to decode.

Not to worry! In this detailed guide, I‘ll explain everything you need to know about Snapchat‘s opened feature.

By the end, you‘ll be a pro at interpreting those Snapchat notifications. Let‘s dive in!

A Quick Refresher: How Do Opened Icons Work on Snapchat?

First, a quick refresher on what "opened" means in Snapchat:

When you send a Snap, an opened icon appears when your friend views that Snap. This confirms your Snap was not only received, but actively opened and seen by the recipient.

These helpful icons come in the form of hollow arrows in varying colors next to your sent Snaps. For example:

• 💬 A blue arrow means your photo Snap was opened

• 💜 A purple arrow means your audio Snap was opened

• 💚 A green arrow indicates your Snap gift was opened

So in a nutshell, an opened Snapchat icon means your Snap has been successfully delivered and viewed. It‘s Snapchat‘s way of letting you know your message was seen loud and clear!

The Difference Between Opened and Received Icons

It‘s important not to mix up opened icons with received icons in Snapchat. Here‘s how to tell them apart:

So the key takeaway:

• A received icon means your Snap arrived, but not necessarily seen yet

• An opened icon means your Snap was actively viewed by your friend

You may see a received icon without an opened one if your pal hasn‘t opened your Snap yet. Knowing this difference helps you understand if your Snaps are being left on read or actually seen!

Reading Snapchat‘s Cryptic Visual Code

Snapchat‘s color-coded opened icons indicate what type of Snap was viewed:

As you can see, each color has a specific meaning. This helps provide context on what your friend saw when they opened your Snap.

For example, if you send a belted-out rendition of your favorite Broadway showtune, that purple arrow confirms your friend took a listen.

And if you Snap a silent video of your dog‘s zoomy pool antics, the red arrow indicates they caught that visual gem.

So memorize this color code, and you‘ll be able to interpret each hollow opened arrow with ease.

Other Helpful Snapchat Icons to Know

Beyond opened Snaps, Snapchat uses other icons to convey status:

While opened icons show viewed Snaps, these other icons provide helpful context:

• Sent arrows confirm your Snap went through after you hit send

• Replayed arrows let you know your Snap was worth a second watch

• Hourglasses indicate your Snap is still making its way to your friend

• And unopened squares mean your Snap arrived but remains unviewed

So next time you see an hourglass icon stuck on "sending", you‘ll know your friend‘s poor wifi is probably to blame for the delay.

Opened Snap Statistics: By The Numbers

Now that we‘ve broken down the basics, let‘s dive into some opened Snap statistics:

• 90% of Snaps are opened within 3 hours of being received, according to Snapchat

• The majority of users (65%) say they primarily use Snapchat to share fun, spontaneous moments with friends

• Users 18-24 years old spend an average of 30+ minutes on Snapchat every day

• Snapchat now has over 363 million daily active users worldwide

• Close friends tend to have a 70% higher Snap open rate than acquaintances or strangers

And here’s an interesting data point…

• Snapchat users open the app on average 30+ times per day!

So if you‘re bummed your 3 a.m. drunken pirate impersonation didn‘t get an opened icon, consider the odds are your BFF was sound asleep when you sent it. Have patience, and it‘ll probably get viewed when they‘re back on the app in the morning.

The point is—with millions of loyal users opening Snapchat repeatedly each day, your Snaps are likely to be seen as long as you‘re sending to people who genuinely care about your content!

When Opened Icons Disappear

Don‘t be alarmed if those opened icons aren‘t permanently fixed in your chat history. Here‘s the deal:

Snapchat will keep opened status icons visible for only 24 hours. After that, they disappear from the chat screen.

Why does Snapchat delete these icons? To prevent clutter and keep your chat list clean.

With frequent conversations happening, piles of those little arrows and squares would quickly accumulate, making your app messy. So Snapchat wipes the slate clean after 24 hours.

But not to worry—even if the icons disappear, you‘ll still be able to see in your chat history if a Snap was opened or still pending. The icons just won‘t display visually next to each Snap after that initial 24-hour window.

So enjoy your opened icons while they last! And if you need a longer record of who‘s viewing your Snaps, just screenshot them as needed.

Peep Who‘s Peepin‘ in Group Chats

Wondering who exactly is opening those Snaps in your group chats? Snapchat‘s got you covered:

In group conversations, you can tap and hold on any opened icon to reveal who opened that Snap. Pretty neat!

Group chats will also show "read receipts" indicating when each person viewed the message. It‘s all displayed by their username and Bitmoji.

So if you see Emma‘s Bitmoji next to the opened icon, you‘ll know she‘s the one who couldn‘t resist opening that embarrassing Snap you sent of Anthony from accounting!

Pro Tips for Opened Snap Success

Now that you know the ins and outs of Snapchat‘s opened icons, here are some pro tips to get your Snaps opened more often:

1. Send Snaps to your Best Friends

Prioritize sending Snaps to your true besties who you know will appreciate them. Close connections have much higher open rates on Snapchat.

2. Send Snaps with Purpose

Only send Snaps with intent and meaning. Don‘t spam friends superficial content just for the sake of sending Snaps.

3. Check Who‘s Viewing Your Stories

Use Snapchat‘s Stories feature to see exactly who‘s viewing your public content each day. then adjust who you send specific Snaps to accordingly.

4. Respect Boundaries

If certain friends aren‘t opening your Snaps often, respect that and adjust who you send frequent Snaps to. Don‘t force conversations.

5. Use Chat Features

Take advantage of Chat Reactions, Bitmojis, and more to keep conversations lively and interactive.

So be selective in sending meaningful Snaps, and you can expect to see those opened icons roll in!

FAQs About Opened Snapchat Icons

Let‘s wrap up with answers to some frequently asked questions about Snapchat‘s opened feature:

Got any other questions about Snapchat‘s opened icons? Don‘t be shy, ask away in the comments!

Closing Thoughts on Snapchat‘s Opened Icons

There you have it, friend! You‘re now an expert on those confusing opened Snapchat icons.

The next time you see a purple arrow, you‘ll know they listened to your outrageous falsetto version of "Defying Gravity." And that blue arrow confirms they laughed at your witty LOL caption on the candid coworker pic.

While opened icons come and go quickly, they provide priceless insight into who‘s engaging with your Snaps in the moment.

So pay attention as those icons light up your Snapchat notifications! They hold meaningful clues to who your closest Snap-minded friends really are on Snapchat.