8 New Social Media Platforms You May Not Know
If you asked someone 20 years ago what their favorite social media platforms are, they probably won't have an answer for you. But since then the popularity and use of social media has grown, with new mediums being developed annually. Here are some of the latest ones you may not have heard of.
If you asked someone 20 years ago what their favorite social media platforms are, they probably won't have an answer for you. Despite the general consensus that the oldest social media platform was developed in 1996, the number of people using these platforms is nothing compared to the billions who use social media today.
Social media platforms have evolved since the nineties – while previously dedicated to personal updates, the most popular platforms now have large user bases and are vehicles for launching brands and professions. However, unlike Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and all popular social media platforms, developers are working on new apps and trying to change the way social media works in one way or another. In this article, we'll review some of the most recent ones you may not have heard of before.
BeReal creates pockets of authenticity throughout the day
"Every day at a different time, everyone is notified at once to take a picture and share it in two minutes." This is the simple logo accompanying the simple app, Be Real that has taken off in recent months.
BeReal was launched in 2020 by two French developers, Alexis Barreyat & Kevin Perreau. The main feature of the app is a daily notification that encourages users to share photos of themselves and their immediate surroundings during a random two-minute window every day.
The app is currently having its time in the spotlight, especially as it offers users a different experience than any other social media platform. In his newsletter Platformer, journalist Casey Newton wrote about Bereal's increased popularity, saying that "... It combines the nostalgia of social apps that came before with the worry about the world those apps created." Until the app notice – it's time to be real. ⚠️ - He became a meme.
Due to its focus on unfiltered and unscheduled publishing, BeReal doesn't have many use cases for businesses – but that doesn't stop branding. It may be an interesting new way to connect with your audience originally.
Polywork is LinkedIn's youngest and coolest sister
According to the team behind the platform, Polywork is a professional social network that allows users to share what they access personally and professionally and send requests for collaboration to others.
The platform aims to take over LinkedIn, emphasizing that people (and their professions) are more than just the roles they've held. Polywork is the best way for multiple connections to show everything they're working on.
It's also a great way to find people to collaborate with (I used it to source quotes for an article), test your products, and dive into the daily activities that bring you happiness to work on.
Now you need an invitation to join Polywork, so I'm sharing the twelve you got. Invitations are not unlimited, so feel free to push them forward when creating your own account.
Get started with Polywork today through this link.
Commendable allows users to share daily pleasures
Applaudable, launched in 2022, will allow users to share everyday pleasures by "paying homage" them – whether it's for a book they've read or a recipe they've tried. AppLudable strives to "improve the quality of life of its users by focusing on specific, authentic experiences that users love or appreciate, and making them available on its platform in a way that can be replicated by others."
The app has capabilities for businesses because it will provide a business element from scratch, allowing users to order the products or booking services they want to try. While it's still under early access, a platform spokesperson says there has been significant interest, and registrations are in the tens of thousands. If you are interested, you can also register before launching the app in August.
The supernova is the ethical way to interact on social media
Supernova has been rated as the "ethical alternative" for Instagram and Facebook, with most of the ad revenue going to charities. Supernova claims that it will only start with human moderators as part of its charter for users to properly handle hate speech.
The app's founder and CEO Dominique Omerea told TechCrunch that sponsors and charities have chosen to engage with the brand because of its "comprehensive social network with user safety at its core."
According to the app's website, users can select the charity area they want to support with the money Supernova collects from its advertising partners. When a user's post is liked, their choice for charity will earn a larger share of the "Supernova Action Fund" as a donation. To date, MQ Mental Health is the first charity selected to benefit, with more options on the way.
Supernova has the potential to become a great platform for companies looking to be more inclusive and return to their community.
Sunroom is all about the Creator
Sunroom is a newcomer to the social media space, like many of the apps on this list, but it's the first direct app for creators. Founders Lucy Mort and Michelle Battersby created the app to support women and non-binary creators and help them make money.
Sunroom mixes the monetization model of platforms like Patreon or OnlyFans with a well-designed social feed. But in the TechCrunch article, the founders say that this is where the similarities end. "Sunroom is designed to provide an alternative to traditional social media apps, an alternative that enables people who are tired of seeing their content being devalued and censored elsewhere."
There's no information on what the branding experience will be on the app (or whether there will be one), but Sunroom is a great opportunity for creators looking for alternative ways to monetize their content.
Between a screenshot blocking technology called SunBlock and three monetization options, Sunroom plans to be a safe space for content creators who want to connect with their audience in ways they may not be able to on big tech platforms.
Pearpop connects brands and creators
Pearpop is a social platform that connects creators and brands looking to collaborate with them. Founded in 2020 by Jay Osiri, it gives brands direct and instant access to collaborate with creators at scale.
According to TechCrunch, the PearPop platform works by allowing TikTok celebrities to set the price of screen time. They can accept bids and preview the content, making sure it matches their personality. Once paid, celebrities post the shared screen video.
Another feature of the platform is "challenges", which allows brands to activate on-demand creator campaigns. This means that a brand can set up a campaign, creators who want to engage can do so and are compensated for their level of engagement. So any TikTok challenge you've seen a celebrity have been involved in is probably caused by a Pearpop connection.
For small businesses and creators, Pearpop is an opportunity to filter a large number of potential collaborators into a more manageable pool where you can build relationships. The app has the ability to democratize how creators sort out brand partnerships.
Whichever side of the equation you use, start with Pearpop here.
Locket lets you share photos on your friends' home screens
Locket turns Apple's widget system into a social networking platform for users and their friends. The app allows users to share live photos from friends to their home screen.
Users invite friends to download the app and join their network, then add Locket widgets to their home screen. From there, they can add photos to Locket, and the tool will automatically update throughout the day.
His audience loves the app – it has a rating of 4.6 on the Apple Store. One user said they downloaded it to use with their family after seeing an ad for the app.
The app's social media content seems to resonate with its users – they have amassed more than 70k followers on TikTok – with comments from users who said they downloaded the app after watching a post about it.
Superlocal lets you earn by sharing your location
Dive into more experimental areas, Superlocal is a product of increased interest in Web3. The app is a social network that allows you to earn cryptocurrencies and NFTs when visiting different sites. You can check in, send your post and earn real rewards through the platform.
According to a white paper published by the team responsible for the app, Superlocal is designed to "make everyday life look like a fun game. It is supposed to give people a sense of community and belonging to the nearby (local) area, rather than feeding the content of people from all over the world. User feeds are localized naturally due to the check-in mechanism, since most people spend most of their time near where they live. The goal of Superlocal is to help people love where they live and motivate them to have fun and explore the surrounding places."
Through the app, users can log in when they visit a new place, create a post about where they visit and earn cryptocurrency for their sharing. Read more about creating and running the app here.
