SNR

What Does SNR Mean in a Text?

The Quick Answer

On Snapchat, SNR means "Streaks and Recents."

More Detail...

It is also a term used in communications with the meaning "Signal to Noise Ratio."

Streaks and Recents

SNR is used on Snapchat with the meaning "Streaks and Recents." In this context, an SNR is a list of the users someone has recently chatted with and the people they are currently in a streak with. (A "Recent" is a recent snap (post). A "Streak" is a run of snaps between two friends over three days without a 24-hour gap between the snaps.) For example:

• Toni: I sent that picture of you to my SNR.
• Jordan: What! That was between us.
• Toni: Welcome to social media.

• Sam: Did you send my selfie to your SNR?
• Lee: Sure did. Is that okay?
• Sam Er, no.

• Ali: Who shall I send your post to?
• Les: Your SNR of course, you Snapchat newbie.
• Ali: Yeah. By the way, that should be "whom."

On Snapchat, a streak is indicated by the flame/fire emoji. The number alongside the emoji shows how many days the streak has been running. When someone in a streak doesn't send a post for a while and it is at risk of coming to an end, an hourglass emoji appears to encourage the participants to keep it going. "Streaks and Recents" is also abbreviated as S/R.

Signal to Noise Ratio

In telecommunications, SNR means "Signal to Noise Ratio." It is a measure of the strength of the desired signal relative to background noise.

Image for SNR

When I write SNR, I mean this:

SNR also means "Signal to Noise Ratio."

Summary of Key Points for First Definition

"Streaks and Recents" is the most common definition for SNR on Snapchat, as well as on WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.

SNR
Definition:	Streaks and Recents
Type:	Abbreviation
Guessability:	5: Extremely difficult to guess
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

Summary of Key Points for Second Definition

SNR also means "Signal to Noise Ratio."

SNR
Definition:	Signal to Noise Ratio
Type:	Abbreviation
Guessability:	5: Extremely difficult to guess
Typical Users:	Specialists

An Academic Look at SNR

SNR is an initialism abbreviation because it is pronounced using its individual letters (i.e., Ess Enn Arr).

What Did We Say before Texting and Social Media?

Before the digital era, we might have said something like "everyone you're currently in contact with" instead of SNR.

Example of SNR Used in a Text

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