The “by mention” notification on Snapchat can be confusing when unexpected friend requests pop up. Users often scratch their heads at these notifications, particularly because they don’t remember anyone mentioning them in stories.
These notifications actually mean someone found your profile through another user’s story that tagged your username. The system sometimes displays these alerts because of technical glitches or spam accounts.
What Does Added by Mention Mean on Snapchat?
The notification “Added by Mention” shows up on Snapchat when someone adds you after seeing your username in another user’s content. This unique notification lets you know exactly how people are finding and connecting with you on the platform.
Your friends can tag you in their Snapchat Story or Snap by using the “@” symbol and your username, which creates a link to your profile. Anyone who sees that content can swipe up on your username to see your profile information and an “Add” button. The “Added by Mention” notification appears once they tap this button to add you.
This notification is Snapchat’s way to show you how your network grows. The app tells you specifically that someone found your profile through another person’s mention instead of leaving you guessing about where they came from.
Mentions are the foundations of friend discovery and let users:
- Find new connections through mutual friends
- Add users they like from Stories
- Build connections naturally through referrals
Snapchat doesn’t tell you which specific mention led to the friend request. The app sends you a notification each time someone mentions you in their Story, so you can see where your username appears.
The sort of thing I love about Snapchat is that accounts are private by default. This means you retain control – even if someone adds you through a mention, they can’t send direct messages until you accept their request.
This notification shows one of the many ways Snapchat makes connecting easier while being clear about how these connections happen. You’ll always know why you’re getting friend requests from people you don’t know.
How the Mention Feature Works on Snapchat
Snapchat’s mention feature connects users through a simple tagging system. Let me explain how this feature works under the hood, which is different from the notifications we talked about before.
You can tag friends on Snapchat after you’ve taken your perfect Snap. Here are two quick ways to do it:
- Using the @ symbol: After taking your Snap, tap the screen to access the text tool. Type “@” followed by the username without spaces. The underlined username shows it’s now an active tag.
- Using the Mention sticker: You can tap the sticker icon in the right-side toolbar, select “Mention” at the top, and choose from suggested friends or type a username manually.
Your tagged friends get a notification that says “[Your Name] mentioned you in their Story!” This lets them know their username appears in your content.
Anyone who views that Story can find your tagged friends. They can swipe up to see a list of tagged users and add them as friends by tapping the “Add” button next to their name.
This explains why you might get “Added by Mention” notifications from strangers. Your friends who tagged you became a bridge that connected you with their wider audience.
Snapchat gives you privacy controls in your settings. Only friends can contact you directly or view your Story by default, which helps protect you even if someone mentions you.
Public profile users can see all mentions from their followers through the “Mentions” tab in their Notifications section. They can share Snaps where they’re mentioned to their own Story by tapping “Add to Story.”
The mention feature ended up being a social discovery tool that helps users grow their networks through mutual connections. It keeps everything transparent about how these new friendships start.
Why You Might See ‘Added by Mention’ When Nobody Mentioned You
Snapchat users often feel puzzled when they get “Added by Mention” notifications without anyone actually mentioning them. People keep reporting this strange situation where random users add them even though their friends never tagged their username in Stories.
The reasons behind this mystery are quite interesting.
App glitches and bugs play a big role here. Snapchat, like any other app, runs into technical problems that send wrong notifications. The app sometimes thinks you were mentioned when you weren’t, or it creates fake alerts because of code issues.
Delayed notifications create another headache. Your phone might show Snapchat mentions hours or days after they happened. Server problems, maintenance work, or weak internet signals on your phone cause these delays. The Story that mentioned you might be gone by the time you see the alert.
Missing original mentions add to the confusion. The app doesn’t always tell you about tags in private Snaps compared to public Stories. Someone could add you through these hidden mentions without you knowing it.
Spam accounts and bots make things worse. These automated accounts use random QR codes or search for usernames to add people. They might add you through what looks like a mention.
Shared Snapcodes create unexpected connections. People might scan your Snapcode from Instagram or blogs and add you. The app calls it “Added by Mention” even though no one tagged you.
This problem becomes worrying especially when you have unknown users who start sending messages. Snapchat hasn’t explained why these phantom “Added by Mention” notifications show up.
You can protect yourself by checking your privacy settings and switching to “Only Friends” mode to control who reaches out to you. The notification settings in your Public Profile let you turn off “Mentions from Followers” completely – just tap the gear icon to find this option.
Conclusion
The “Added by Mention” feature on Snapchat shows how friends’ tags can help others find your profile. False notifications pop up sometimes due to technical issues and spam accounts, but this feature lets you track how people connect with your profile clearly.
Your privacy settings need regular updates. You should think about setting limits on who reaches out to you. The mention system on Snapchat has its quirks but helps you grow your social circle while you retain control of your connections.
FAQs
Q1. What does “Added by Mention” mean on Snapchat?
“Added by Mention” indicates that someone added you as a friend after seeing your username tagged in another user’s Snapchat Story or Snap. This feature allows users to discover and connect with new people through mutual friends or content they enjoy.
Q2. How does the mention feature work on Snapchat?
Users can mention others by typing “@” followed by a username or using the Mention sticker when creating a Snap or Story. When someone is mentioned, they receive a notification, and viewers of that content can tap on the mention to view and potentially add that person as a friend.
Q3. Why might I see “Added by Mention” when I wasn’t actually mentioned?
This can occur due to app glitches, delayed notifications, or expired Stories containing your mention. Sometimes, spam accounts or bots may also trigger these notifications. Additionally, if you’ve shared your Snapcode on other platforms, someone adding you through that method might appear as “Added by Mention.”
Q4. How can I control who can mention me on Snapchat?
While you can’t directly control who mentions you, you can manage your privacy settings. Set your account to “Friends Only” to limit who can contact you. You can also turn off Mention notifications in your Public Profile settings if you find them disruptive.
Q5. Is it safe to accept friend requests from “Added by Mention”?
It’s generally safe, but use caution. These requests often come from friends of friends or people who saw your username in content they enjoyed. However, always be wary of suspicious accounts or unsolicited messages, and don’t hesitate to block or report any concerning behavior.
