Snapchat is a blend of social media and communication, becoming extremely popular in the cell phone world. It allows you to send quick photos and videos back and forth, as well as chats that disappear after they are opened—giving some privacy (theoretically) and a living-in-the-moment feeling to messages. There are also different kinds of profiles to be aware of.
A public profile allows you to be discovered in the app so new people can find and add you. It also allows your stories to be shown to people who may not be on your friends list. However, you do have to be over 18 to create a public profile on Snapchat for safety reasons.
If you want to learn more, let’s take a closer look at Snapchat’s public profiles, what they offer, who can make them, and the difference between public and creator profiles.
What is the Purpose of a Public Profile on Snapchat?
A public profile on Snapchat allows people to be discovered within the app and make new connections. In addition, it will enable you to post stories to your profile that can be viewed by people not necessarily connected to you, showing where you are on a map (if you permit it) and using lenses.
It also allows you to share your Snapchat profile on other social media, so people who want to connect with you can come to Snapchat and add you as a friend or subscribe to it.
People with small public platforms may wish to use this, as it can allow fans to connect to them on their public Snapchat.
You can make a public profile by following these steps:
- First, head to Snapchat and open the app.
- Next, tap on your story icon or your bitmoji (the avatar you created of yourself).
- Select Create Public Profile.
- You will then be taken through various steps and options to finish up the creation of your public profile. It’s quick and easy.
It takes Snapchat from just a communication app like Whatsapp or Messenger to more of a social media app that appeals to many people.
Others, they’d rather keep it to communicate with close friends, which means there’s no real need for them to branch out and make a public profile.
What’s the Difference Between a Public Profile and a Creator Profile?
Creator profiles are given features designed to let people connect with and grow their audience on social media. They’re a step up from a public profile and grant the user access to more features, as someone must have a public profile to become eligible for a creator one.
You also must have already grown an audience for Snapchat to consider you eligible for a creator account.
Many features come with it, including being able to assign and manage roles, creating a public story that’s separate from your actual story, and showing a lot of different information on your profile.
YouTubers and Instagram influencers are great examples of people who may want a creator profile and benefit heavily from the features they can offer.
Who Can Make a Public Snapchat Profile?
Most people are eligible to create a public Snapchat profile. There are just a few requirements you have to meet:
- First, you must be over 18.
- Second, your account must be over 24 hours old.
- Third, you must have already made at least one friend on Snapchat.
Snapchat is also very firm that anyone on the app (particularly anyone with a public profile) must follow their community guidelines. If you violate them, Snapchat won’t grant you a public profile; it will also take it away if you violate them after getting it.
Snapchat’s guidelines are relatively lax and aren’t hard to follow and adhere to. For example, they ban hate speech and harassment and state that illegal content must be kept off the app, and you can’t spread false information using your public profile.
Can You Delete a Public Profile?
If you do choose at some point to get rid of your public profile, deleting it is an easy process. You can go into Settings, select Public Profiles, and delete yours.
If you make a mistake and later decide that you want your public profile back, you can contact Snapchat, but there’s no guarantee. You may have to create a new one if you want your public profile back, so it’s best to be sure before you make any big moves.
Do I Need a Public Profile?
Whether you need a public profile depends on what you intend to use Snapchat for. For example, if you have it to stay connected with friends and are happy to stay private and only be added by people you know, you don’t need a public profile.
However, if you aim to make new friends in the app or connect with a larger audience—eventually getting creator features—you will have to create a public profile.
Who Can Make a Creator Profile?
To make a creator profile, there are a few requirements that Snap demands from you, including:
- At least one friend where both of you have accepted each other.
- Your Snapchat profile must be at least a week old.
- You must have at least 100 subscribers.
This is because it’s intended for people looking to grow their social media business or people who may have a fanbase that they want to use the platform to connect to. Once an account goes creator, Snapchat is very explicit that it cannot be downgraded again.
Creator profiles are also great for large businesses using Snapchat to advertise their products. However, they reach a much wider audience than your average Snapchat account, which is why they’re essential and a little tricky to obtain.
One of the cool things about having a creator profile is the roles you can assign to have people help with Snapchat.
For example, multiple people often run creator Snapchats, or others may need to step in (like agents for more well-known people).
To Wrap Things Up
Overall, public profiles are great on Snapchat, as they allow you to connect with more people as long as you meet the requirements. They’re easy to create, but you should first check out Snapchat’s community guidelines and abide by them, or your account may be deleted.
Creator profiles are harder to obtain due to their status, but if you want one, you’ll have to make a public profile first and work toward the requirements.