Snapchat is big on random icons, some of them are so random that it’s hard to tell why they’re there. But it’s important to know the meaning of these icons if you’re a serious Snapchat user. They play a role in communicating something important about your Snapchat habits, and specifically your Snapstreak.
What does the hourglass icon on Snapchat mean?
The Hourglass icon is one such icon that provides information about your Snapchat usage. Here’s everything you need to know about the Hourglass icon, how long it lasts, and why it appears in the first place.
The hourglass icon is like a countdown clock. Snapchat introduced this icon to make sure a user knows that their Snapstreak with another user is almost over and that they need to take action to continue the streak. It is essentially a warning that you are slipping and that you need to up your Snapchat game so that the hourglass icon can be replaced by the lighted/fire icon again, indicating that you are on your Snapstreak. Keep in mind that a Snapstreak is defined by the number of snaps you send and not a text conversation.
The icon will appear next to both your profile and the profile icon of the contact you've exchanged Snaps with, just before both Snapstreaks are about to end.