Snapchat buys student scheduling platform Saturn

In a strategic move to strengthen its appeal among teens, Snapchat has acquired Saturn, a calendar-based social app designed to help students manage their schedules and connect with friends. The acquisition highlights Snap’s ongoing effort to stay deeply integrated into teen life by offering features that support both academic and social interactions.

What Is Saturn?

Saturn is a unique platform aimed at helping students organize their school schedules while fostering social connections. The app enables users to:

• Share calendars with friends

• Coordinate meet-ups

• Chat within the app

• Join and create events

These features make it easier for students to stay on top of their academic commitments while enhancing their social lives, aligning perfectly with the ways teens already use Snapchat.

Why the Acquisition Makes Sense for Snapchat

Snapchat’s core user base consists mainly of teenagers, making Saturn a natural fit. According to the company, about 80% of U.S. high school students are in schools that already support Saturn’s scheduling system. Saturn currently operates in around 17,000 high schools across the United States and is now expanding to college campuses, broadening its reach among young audiences.

By integrating Saturn’s calendar and event tools, Snapchat can offer its users new ways to interact, plan, and meet up in real life — all within the app ecosystem they already love.

How Snapchat Could Integrate Saturn’s Features

Snapchat has a history of adding features that promote real-world interactions, such as Snap Map, where users can share their location. Saturn’s scheduling capabilities could complement Snap Map by allowing users to:

• Flag upcoming events and meet-ups

• Coordinate schedules for group activities

• Make it easier to find common free time with friends

While these tools can strengthen friendships and social bonds, they also raise potential privacy concerns. Sharing where you’ll be at a future time could create risks, such as unwanted attention or misuse by others.

Privacy and Safety Considerations

As with any feature that involves location or scheduling, privacy is a key concern. While Snapchat already offers privacy controls on Snap Map, the introduction of calendar-based sharing could add complexity. Teens may inadvertently share too much about their whereabouts, creating opportunities for misuse or stalking.

Snapchat will need to ensure that robust privacy settings are in place, giving users control over who can see their calendar and event details. It’s likely that Snap will emphasize these protections as it integrates Saturn’s technology.

What’s Next for Saturn Users?

For now, Saturn will continue to operate as a standalone app while Snap determines how to best integrate its functionality. Eventually, it’s possible that Saturn’s features will be folded directly into Snapchat, offering users a unified platform for chatting, sharing, and scheduling.

This transition could allow Snapchat to:

• Introduce calendar-based social features

• Offer integrated event planning tools

• Enhance in-person connection opportunities among teens

A Smart Move to Deepen Teen Engagement

Snapchat’s acquisition of Saturn reflects its broader strategy of deepening engagement with its teen audience by adding tools that support their daily lives. The app is no longer just about sharing photos and videos — it’s evolving into a platform where teens can organize, connect, and plan with their peers.