Are you tired of Facebook and looking for a new social media platform? With privacy concerns, fake news, and political fighting, many users have been logging on less, even deleting their accounts altogether. Fortunately, there are alternatives that may suit your needs. Here, we have compiled a list of some of the best options, from the most popular challengers to a few of the latest upstarts.
Although there is no exact Facebook alternative out there, you may be searching for something different. A social network platform where everyone knows your name, and you won’t get trolled for posting. The following social media apps promise features such as less ad targeting, less fake news, and more security so users can share updates, read the headlines, and communicate with confidence in their security and privacy.
List of some of the best Facebook alternatives
Twitter (Android, iOS)
Twitter is a great platform to broadcast your thoughts to a wider audience and catch breaking news stories. If you have trouble keeping your thoughts brief, you may want to reconsider, because you’re limited to 280 characters for status updates. Twitter took Facebook’s most fundamental feature—the status update—and spun it off into its own app. It’s since become a platform for celebrities and politicians to post their every thought, photo, and video. Many of these become news stories in and of themselves. In addition, you’ll find celebrities, politicians, musicians, and sports athletes’ accounts on the platform with the most Twitter followers.
Speaking of news, Twitter has become an excellent news feed as most media organizations post breaking news stories there. Just make sure you’re following publications you trust and avoid the comments and replies in most cases. On Twitter, you can also broadcast your 280-character thoughts publicly or make your account private so only the followers you accept can see your activity.
Instagram (Android, iOS)
A lot of people who have fled Facebook have made Instagram their new home. Despite Facebook’s ownership of the service since 2012, Instagram keeps you in touch with the happier, prettier, and friends-and-family side of your social network. Instagram is best known as a place to post photos of meals, sunsets, travel, and pets. Many also post selfies that are so carefully edited that they’re unrecognizable.
Others post videos or Snapchat-like stories that showcase 24 hours’ worth of photos and videos that disappear at the end of the day. Like Twitter, it’s fun to follow celebrities on Instagram and, through their photos, see how the other half lives. On Instagram, you can post publicly, share stories with specific friends, or post privately.
Snapchat (Android, iOS)
Snapchat may have started as the anti-Facebook for a younger, more privacy-focused generation to send self-erasing photo messages. But it quickly became a more feature-rich social platform, full of goofy face filters, geographical photo tags, and short-snippet news stories from major media organizations. Unfortunately, Snapchat doesn’t have a very intuitive user experience, and it appeals mostly to a younger audience who appear to be using it less since the advent of Instagram Stories.
Pinterest (Android, iOS)
Maybe you don’t care what everyone in your “friends” group is thinking or doing every minute of the day. You’ve got enough of that on Facebook over the years. Instead, you’re looking for design inspiration for your wedding, recipes for dinner this week, and travel ideas for your next trip. Whatever your interest, you’ll find it on Pinterest.
One of Pinterest’s more interesting features is Pinterest Lens, which lets you snap a photo of anything that appeals to you in the real world and then shows you how to purchase, create, or do it yourself. You can share your posts or pins publicly, hide your pins, or even hide your account from search engines.
LinkedIn (Android, iOS)
If you’re looking for a professional networking site to find job opportunities and connect with colleagues, LinkedIn is the place to be. With LinkedIn, you can keep up with the latest industry news and follow influencers in your field to inspire you to take your career to the next level. Keep in mind that LinkedIn is a professional social site, so your posts should be safe for work. It’s also important to note that messaging on LinkedIn can sometimes take weeks for a response unless you’re messaging someone in HR or a job seeker who’s on LinkedIn every day.
Vero (Android, iOS)
Vero is the perfect social media platform for users who value privacy. With Vero, you have greater control over who sees your posts. You can organize your network by acquaintances, friends, or close friends and choose which users see your latest photo, song link, movie recommendation, or news article in their news feed.
However, it’s important to note that most of your friends, family members, and colleagues are probably not on Vero, so you won’t be able to keep up with them through this social media app unless you can convince them to sign up. One of the famous people on Vero is Zack Snyder, director of Man of Steel and other DCEU movies. So, if you’re his fan, you can join Vero for his content.
Ello (Android, iOS)
Ello is a great social networking platform for creative types looking to build brand awareness and sell their wares without being tracked. Unlike other social media platforms, Ello is ad-free and doesn’t track users. You can remain anonymous while building your brand and connecting with other creatives in your field.
However, it’s important to note that like other upstarts, Ello doesn’t have the critical mass of users that Facebook has, so you’ll have to be a pioneer.
MeWe (Android, iOS)
If you’re looking for a social network that’s ad-free, spyware-free, and censorship-free, MeWe is the place to be. You can share your photos, videos, voice messages, GIFs, memes, and more with just one person, a specific group, or all your contacts. You can even send disappearing GIFs and photos. MeWe won’t track you, but if you want to send end-to-end encrypted chats, it’ll cost you 99 cents per month or $5.99 per year. The downside of MeWe is that most of your contacts are probably not using it, and the ability to send encrypted chats over MeWe costs money.
Minds.com (Android, iOS)
Minds.com has a lot of the features you’ve come to love on Facebook, including status updates, check-ins, photos, video posts, news feed, groups, blogs, and more. But on Minds.com, it’s all on an “open source and decentralized social networking platform.” You can also chat privately in Minds.com with an encrypted in-app messenger. However, it’s important to note that you probably won’t be able to chat with most of your contacts on Minds.com because they’re not on it.
Nextdoor (Android, iOS)
Nextdoor is a neighborhood-focused app that’s perfect for keeping tabs on people and activity in your local community. Whether you want to make friends with your neighbors, easily sell your stuff, hire a babysitter, house sitter, or dog walker, or get informed about yard sales, what you need may be as close as a neighbor a few doors away. Nextdoor has become a popular place for posts that alert users to nearby criminal activity and for sharing critical info during an earthquake or flood, for example.
To ensure that outsiders don’t get in, Nextdoor verifies users’ accounts after ensuring they live at their address by either sending users a postcard with a confirmation code or texting the code to a phone that’s tied to their home address. The downside of Nextdoor is that the neighborhood-focused app isn’t useful for following civic, national, or world events and oftentimes attracts users who only want to vent about trivial neighborhood issues or complain about their neighbors anonymously, which can create unnecessary drama and conflict in the community. Here’s how to join Nextdoor.
So, these are some of the Facebook alternatives that you can try. Just sign up for these platforms and see for yourself if they fit your needs.
If you’re looking for something like Facebook, I’ve also found another platform named Post, a new Twitter alternative committed to delivering better than blue-bird. Although the platform was launched after Elon Musk’s Twitter takeover, you can also use it as a Facebook alternative. Find me there @abdugeek on Post.
Some may also consider TikTok as an alternative to Facebook, however, it may differ since TikTok is only a content/media platform, making it an Instagram alternative.
We’ve also added some F.A.Qs regarding Facebook alternatives and tried to answer them in the best way possible.
FAQs:
Why would I need a Facebook alternative?
There are many reasons why you might want to use a Facebook alternative, including concerns about privacy, dissatisfaction with Facebook’s features and policies, or a desire to try something new.
What are some popular Facebook alternatives?
Some popular Facebook alternatives include Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok, Snapchat, and WhatsApp.
Are Facebook alternatives safe to use?
While no social networking site can guarantee complete safety and security, many Facebook alternatives have robust privacy policies and security features in place to protect their users’ personal information.
Can I still connect with my friends on a Facebook alternative?
Yes, most Facebook alternatives allow you to connect with friends and family members, either by importing your Facebook contacts or by searching for people you know on the site.
Do I need to create a new account for each Facebook alternative I want to use?
Yes, you will need to create a separate account for each Facebook alternative you want to use. However, some sites offer the option to sign in using your existing Facebook or Google account.
Are there any Facebook alternatives specifically for business users?
Yes, there are several social networking sites designed specifically for business users, including LinkedIn, Xing, and Slack.
Can I still use Facebook if I switch to a Facebook alternative?
Yes, you can still use Facebook even if you switch to a Facebook alternative. However, you may want to consider deactivating or deleting your Facebook account if you are concerned about privacy or other issues.
Do Facebook alternatives have the same features as Facebook?
Many Facebook alternatives offer similar features to Facebook, such as messaging, photo sharing, and group creation. However, some may have different or more specialized features, such as a focus on visual content or a specific niche community.
Are Facebook alternatives free to use?
Most Facebook alternatives are free to use, although some may offer premium features or require a subscription fee.