While it might seem that teenagers dominate the social media landscape, there are actually plenty of social media apps that have a majority or large proportion of adult users.
Whether it's seeing what's going down in your neighborhood, making business connections, or sharing some pictures with grandma, we've rounded up the best social media apps for adults.
Whether it’s seeing what’s happening in your area, making business connections, or sharing some photos with friends, we’ve rounded up the best social media apps for adults for you.
1. Facebook
Facebook is one of the longest standing social media apps. When you think of the term "social media", your mind probably first goes to Facebook. With billions of active users, it dominates as the biggest social networking service. That's partly because it's been around for so long, changing the landscape of the internet forever. Many people have grown up posting their whole lives on Facebook.
On Facebook, you can connect with friends, family, colleagues, and old classmates from around the world. You can post your mind, share your vacation photos, and join groups of like-minded people.
Facebook is a great platform for nearly every business to have a presence on. Facebook is undoubtedly one of the best adult social media apps.
Number of Monthly Active Users Worldwide: 2.91 billion active users
Download: Facebook for Android | iOS (Free, in-app purchases available)
2. YouTube
Since YouTube now has so many social features, it's fair to consider YouTube a social media platform. Of course, you undoubtedly know of YouTube, since it's the largest video-sharing service in the world. It lets you upload videos for free and watch the endless amount of content that individuals and businesses upload.
To connect with creators, you should subscribe to their channel, like their videos, and chat in the comments. YouTube lets larger channels create community posts, which you can also engage with.
Number of Monthly Active Users Worldwide: 2.56 billion active users
Download: YouTube for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)
3. Instagram
Instagram is a photo and video sharing service that launched in 2010 and eventually got sold to Facebook. It's not overflowing with features, but its simplicity is what makes it good. The main feed is an endless scroll of media from people you follow and topics you might be interested in.
You can choose to follow people you know, or just live vicariously through celebrity and influencer lifestyles. When it comes to sharing your photos and videos, there are plenty of filters that alter the image. You can share these to your main feed or to a temporary section called Stories.
Number of Monthly Active Users Worldwide: 1.478 billion active users
Download: Instagram for Android | iOS (Free, in-app purchases available)
4. TikTok
TikTok was the initial inspiration for the popular Instagram Reels feature, leading the charge in short-form video content. All sorts of brands can take advantage of this app; you just need to get creative with your content.
Most of the content on the social media platform is dance videos between 3 and 15 seconds. However, people also like to share other forms of short-form video content, such as clips of them talking, a comedy sketch, or just a bunch of short videos compiled into a 60-second clip.
Number of Monthly Active Users Worldwide: 1.478 billion active users
Download: TikTok for Android | iOS (Free, in-app purchases available)
5. Snapchat
Of all the social media apps on this list, Snapchat is the one which traditionally skews younger. However, millions of adults use Snapchat—which makes sense, considering the platform has been around since 2011, and many have used it since the beginning.
The main conceit of Snapchat is that the messages and videos you send only last for a limited amount of time. Snapchat offers plenty of fun and silly filters to apply to your photos and videos. If you're looking for a light hearted adult social media app, give Snapchat a try.
Number of Monthly Active Users Worldwide: 557 million active users
Download: Snapchat for Android | iOS (Free, in-app purchases available)
6. Pinterest
If you're seeking inspiration, Pinterest is the app for you. It essentially acts as a mood board, letting you gather media (primarily images, but also videos) based on whatever theme you desire: travel, cooking, fashion, weddings, and so on. You can upload your images or discover what other users have shared and "pin" those to your board.
Even if you don't have anything specific in mind, it's fun to browse Pinterest simply to discover new ideas. You're also bound to come across interesting accounts, which you can follow to keep track of the creativity.
Number of Monthly Active Users Worldwide: 444 million active users
Download: Pinterest for Android | iOS (Free)
7. Twitter
On Twitter, you write 280-character messages known as tweets. You can publish these to your profile and you can respond to other's tweets. You're just as likely to find your best friend on Twitter as you are a global megastar; it's your choice who you follow. While plenty of youngsters use Twitter, it's nevertheless an excellent adult social media app.
Because of the snappy nature of tweets, Twitter is great for gathering instant reactions, news, or brief insights into the mind of others. On the flip side, the character limit doesn't give much room for nuance, so be wary.
Number of Monthly Active Users Worldwide: 436 million active users
Download: Twitter for Android | iOS (Free, in-app purchases available)
8. Reddit
Reddit is one of the best social media platforms. It's part social network, part news aggregator. On Reddit, users share content like images, videos, and text posts, with others voting on it to impact its ranking within the feed. This content gets posted to communities (known as subreddits), of which millions exist for all sorts of hobbies and topics large and small.
Beneath every Reddit submission are comments, where you can share your thoughts and chat with others. You might even decide to open your own subreddit, which is free to do, and see how popular it gets.
Number of Monthly Active Users Worldwide: 430 million active users
Download: Reddit for Android | iOS (Free, in-app purchases available)
9. LinkedIn
LinkedIn is the go-to social networking app for adults and business professionals. On LinkedIn, you can build a profile that details your employment history, skills, and certifications. You can connect with current and former colleagues and use LinkedIn as a way to find new employment opportunities.
Many employers use LinkedIn to post jobs and scout potential applicants. To improve your chances, ask those you connect with to endorse your skills, write posts to highlight your recent achievements, and share articles about your industry.
Number of Monthly Active Users Worldwide: 310 million active users
Download: LinkedIn for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)
10. Discord
Discord began life as a way for gamers to gather and chat while playing, but it's since expanded into a great app for communicating with anyone. Discord splits into servers, which act as public or private communities, wherein you can chat with others through text, voice, and video.
Discord can be as expansive as you want it to be. If you only want to be in a server with your friends, shooting the breeze and sharing memes, that's fine. But if you want to connect with people from around the world, and make new friends in the process, there's room for that too.
Download: Discord for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)
11. Nextdoor
If you want a local social networking app, Nextdoor is the one for you. Rather than connecting with the globe, it puts you in contact with those in your neighborhood. This allows you to find out the latest news in your area, seek events, get recommendations for local tradespeople, and just chat with those nearby.
Nextdoor also has a section where you can buy and sell goods, though it just facilitates these transactions rather than processing the payments. Many people also list things for free, so it's great if you're strapped for cash.
Download: Nextdoor for Android | iOS (Free)
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best social media platform for business?
Although there are many social media platforms out there, there are only a few that actually helps businesses, specifically through digital marketing. The best social media platforms for business are Facebook, TikTok and LinkedIn.
What is the best social media app for adults?
For a professional social media site, it is LinkedIn. But the best overall social media for adults is Facebook.
Which Social Media Site Should You Choose?
Well, that depends on your use case. If you enjoy exchanging ideas with like-minded people, then Reddit, Twitter and even Pinterest are the sites to use. If you are looking for image and video sharing, opt for Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat. For entertainment specializing in video format – choose YouTube. If you are a business looking to expand your presence via social media marketing, then Instagram and Facebook are your best options.
Using social media is a good way to stay in touch with family and friends, but it also has benefits that go beyond this. It provides a convenient means of staying informed on current events and cultural advancements. Social media has become an important tool for many people because it is easy to use, connects people, and makes it easier to share information. You now have the best social apps available to do all of the above, so make the most of them!
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