What does by mention mean on Snapchat? Easy Guide 2025

What does by mention mean on Snapchat? This question often pops up when users see the notification “Added by Mention” and aren’t sure what it means. Many people get this alert when someone adds them through a mention, but the reason behind it can be unclear. In 2025, the “by mention” feature is still active and plays an important role in how people connect and engage on Snapchat.

The “by mention” option simply shows that someone found your profile because your username was tagged in another person’s Story or Snap. It’s Snapchat’s way of helping friends discover each other through tags. This makes it easier to meet new people without searching manually.

Understanding what “Added by Mention” means can save you from confusion. It also helps you manage your privacy better. In this guide, we’ll explain how it works, why you might see it, and what to do if you get unexpected requests.

The term “By Mention” on Snapchat means that someone added you as a friend after seeing your username tagged in another person’s Snap or Story. When a friend uses the “@” symbol with your username, it creates a direct link to your profile. Anyone who views that Story can tap your name and send you a friend request. This is Snapchat’s way of showing you how new people are finding your account.

The nature of ‘normal add’ and ‘add by mention’ is the same, but for the context. ‘Normal add’ is where a user types your username, scans your Snapcode, or is obtained through Quick Add. ‘Added by Mention’ is when a user is connected through a tag on someone else’s content. Normal adds are based on your profile being searchable or suggested in a database, while mention adds are based on real-time Snap usage.

When you see “Added by Mention” in your Added You screen, it means someone added you after tapping your tagged username in another person’s Snap or Story. Here’s the step-by-step flow of how it works:

1. Someone tags you:  A user takes a photo or video for their Snap or Story and types “@” followed by your username.
2. Friends or viewers see the Story: Your username appears as a clickable link in that Snap or Story.
3. Someone taps your username: They’re taken directly to your profile, where they can see your details and an Add button.
4. You receive a notification: Once they tap “Add,” you’ll see the notification “Added by Mention” in your Added You screen.

This feature is not just for connecting strangers, it’s also a common way friends introduce each other on Snapchat. For example, if a friend tags you in a party Story, everyone watching can tap your username and add you instantly. In this way, mentions work as both a sharing tool and a digital networking feature.

Snapchat, like many other applications, has its own set of notifications, especially if a person has been added to the user’s contacts. Added by Mention and Added by Search are some of the notifications that demonstrate the user has added the person to their contacts and are associated with their username.

If you see “Added by Search,” that means someone looked up your username and searched for it specifically. In most cases, this happens when someone already knows the username or has seen it on a different platform. In this case, after searching and selecting the username, the user profile is opened, and a friend request can be sent.

A lot of users ask, what does by mention mean on Snapchat when they see the “Added by Mention” notification, but the feature is easier to understand than it looks. “Added by Mention” has nothing to do with searching. Rather, it happens when someone tags you in a Snap or a Story and you are in a friend’s list. Anyone who views that tag has the option to tap the name and add it to their list. 

Thus, “Added by Search” is different from “Added by Mention” in the sense that the former means a person desperately searched for the profile, while the latter indicates that the user was found through someone else’s platform.

Snapchat is one of the friendliest apps when it comes to adding through mention. By simply clicking on the user who is tagged in a Story or Snap, you can add that person in a couple of taps. This feature helps you find new friends without needing to search for their username manually.

If you’ve ever wondered what does by mention mean on Snapchat, it simply refers to when someone adds you through a tag in another user’s story or snap. Below is a step by step guide to adding Snapchat Friends via mention:

1. Open the Snap or Story where a username is tagged.
2. Look for the underlined name in the content.
3. Tap on the username to open their profile.
4. Press the “Add” button to send them a friend request.

That’s it, you’ve added someone directly from a mention.

If a friend adds someone to a story and tags them, that mention acts as a hyperlink. Anyone watching the story can click the tag and be taken to the profile. This lets Snaps serve a dual purpose: as a way to share photos, and a way to meet new people.

Take the case where a friend shares a story about a party and tags you. All the people watching that story can tap on your username and request your friendship. In this way, the mention system serves as a means of digital networking, allowing people to meet the friends of their friends easily.

Sometimes, you might see the “Added by Mention” tag on Snapchat, even in cases where you don’t remember being tagged. This happens because the app interfaces with people in different and innovative ways, and not all are apparent at the start.

One common reason is that a friend tagged your username in their Story, and someone from their audience tapped it to add you. In other cases, you might not see the Story anymore because it has already expired, but the friend request still appears as “Added by Mention.” Technical delays or bugs can also cause the app to send this type of notification, even when no clear mention is visible. Spam accounts and bots sometimes trigger the same alert.

Common examples include being tagged in a group event on Snap, a friend mentioning you in a party Story, or someone adding you after your name has been shown in a public profile. In all these instances, Snapchat issues a badge “Added by Mention” so that you understand that the invitation is the result of a tag and not a personal search.

Mentioning people on Snapchat is simple and helps make your Snaps more interactive. By tagging friends, you allow others to connect with them directly through your content.

To achieve maximum effectiveness, always sensibly tag friends. 

Mentions also help boost engagement on your Stories. When people see a tagged username, they are more likely to tap it, check profiles, and even add new friends. This not only strengthens your own connections but also increases the chance of your Stories being shared and viewed by a wider audience. In short, smart use of mentions makes Snapchat more fun and helps you stay active in your social circle.

Still curious and want to read more community discussions? You can also check this helpful Quora thread for different user experiences.

Sometimes users see “Added by Mention” even when nobody tagged them.

• This can happen if a friend shares your Snap username in a private chat and the receiver adds you.
• Comments on Spotlight or public stories can also expose your username, leading to random friend requests.
• Some users even report strangers or spam accounts adding them, which raises privacy concerns.

Even though mentions can be advantageous on Snapchat, the user also has to manage how they impact the user’s account negatively. The application allows you to manage user interaction; thus, using the privacy settings provided aids you in making better decisions.

Based on your preferences, the account can be set to Friends Only. This means only users on your friend list can tag you, lowering the possibility of strangers adding you to their friend lists. If you use a public profile, review your settings regularly to make sure they match the level of privacy you want.

Managing notifications is another way to stay comfortable with mentions. If constant alerts become distracting, go to your notification settings and turn off “Mentions from Followers.” This helps you focus on the mentions that matter while avoiding unnecessary noise. By using these simple controls, you can enjoy the benefits of mentions without worrying about unwanted requests or spam.

Many Snapchat users report random people (sometimes from specific regions) adding them through “by mention.” This usually happens when usernames are shared in group chats or through public Spotlight content. If you’re worried about this, review your Mention settings and restrict mentions to “Friends Only.”

Sometimes Snapchat mentions don’t work as expected. A few simple checks can solve most problems and help keep the feature running smoothly.

Mentions may fail if the username is typed incorrectly or the tagged account has changed its privacy settings. Friends who disable publicly accessible mentions or switch their accounts into private mode will have their mentions disabled. In some cases, app glitches or weak internet can also stop the mention from showing properly in a Story or Snap.

If you believe someone mentioned you, but the “Added by Mention” alert is missing, first check if the Story has expired. If you suspect that somebody added you to a story, and “Added by Mention” is not present, make sure that the Story has not expired. 

When Snap accounts are active mentions, and the account no longer has live content, the system will automatically delete that account. Snap account recommends a software version upgrade or recommends clearing the app cache in the settings menu. If the issue persists, the recommended solution for the system is to delete the app or contact Snap account support to reassign their access.