Teens stay connected with these popular apps
Social networking is constantly evolving.
Gone are the days whenMySpaceruled the web.
Now, practically everyone’s gone mobile, with more than 95 percent of teenagers owning a smartphone.
With Facebook skewing toward older users, what are the social networking and messaging services drawing younger people?
Here’s a look at the top social app trends for teens.
YouTube
Huge variety of topics.
Innumerable amount of videos.
Can add commentary and reviews to videos.
Can save videos to a watchlist for later viewing.
Many videos have ads.
YouTube has problems with commentary and child predators.
No way to really filter undesirable video topics.
You might thinkYouTubewould be the granddaddy in this bunch, but you’d be wrong.
Snapchat
Simple interface.
Can take pictures or video.
Share your pics with friends or the public.
Fun avatars created through Bitmoji.
Lots of filters and lenses make chatting fun.
If using location services, it can be intrusive.
Ads show up in the Discover part of the app.
Snapchat isn’t just a media-sharing app.
you’ve got the option to even use it tosend moneyto your friends.
Great place to share photos and videos.
Easy to post photos and videos.
Edit images and add filters for visual effects.
Fewer ads than its counterparts.
Easy messaging integration with Facebook.
Quite a few spam or illicit accounts.
Can’t post clickable URLs.
Facebook may rule social photo-sharing on the web, but Instagram is arguably the mobile social photo-sharing leader.
Instagram also makes it easy and seamless to merge your Instagram and Facebook social lives.
End-to-end encryption.
Can edit pics with clipart, filters, and more.
App allows two different accounts on Android.
App needs all parties involved to use WhatsApp.
Earlier versions were prone to crashes.
WhatsApp boasts 1.5 billion users as of early 2021, and the app’s users aren’t just texting.
The platform is completely isolated from Facebook, so teens don’t need to worry about the two overlapping.
WhatsApp is compatible with Android phones, iPhones, Macs, and Windows computers.
Kik
Can join public chat groups on a variety of topics.
Searchable GIFs, stickers, and more.
Free additional emojis available for download.
you’ve got the option to even create and send your own memes.
No moderation in public chatgroups.
Messages can be slow to send.
Like WhatsApp, Kik has become an insanely popular messaging app for teens.
Kik works with Android, iOS, Amazon, and Microsoft mobile devices.
Telegram
Available on a variety of platforms.
You have to wait two minutes to receive an SMS code when getting started.
There can be problems when verifying a new phone.
Numerous reports of long delays getting access to app.
This is unique to most messaging apps that support image and video files.
The messages are synced across all supported devices because the messages and files are stored in the cloud.
you’re free to also address up to 5,000 of your closest friends in one single group message.
Telegram is available on iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Windows PC, Mac, and Linux.
The web version lets you access Telegram from any computer without installing the software.
X (formerly Twitter)
Instant gratification of newsworthy or entertainment info.
you could choose between top trending tweets or tweets as they happen.
Many famous people use the app, making for interesting reading.
Great way to interact with your favorite TV shows via Tweet Chat.
Your tweets can easily get lost in the shuffle.
Tweets still have a character limitation.
Hard to keep up with feed if you follow a lot of people.
Users can get on X from their computer, phone, or tablet.
See all the different ways you might use X on its apps page.
Tumblr
Can post a blog, video, pics, and even animated GIFs.
Freely express yourself with blog-like posts.
Suggested posts help you find content related to what you just liked.
Few to no ads.
Has had problems with adult content in the past.
Tumblr has had some censorship complaints.
Hard to build a following.
Tumblr can be downloaded on Android and iOS.
It also works through a web online window.
ASKfm
Interesting way to get to know someone.
Photo polls are a fun way to start a conversation.
Difficult to find subjects you want to read.
Can’t easily search for specific posts.
You have to follow at least three friends to earn “coins” for profile features.
Potential for cruelty or bullying.
It gives youngsters another reason to talk about themselves other than in the comment section of their ownselfies.
you could use this service on the web and through the ASKfm mobile apps.
