Other Social Networks

Facebook, Instagram and Twitter are the most popular social networking platforms, and have the highest user base. Facebook has an active user base of 1.5 Billion; Instagram has 400 Million users and Twitter 316 Million users. A look at the lesser known platforms reveals the likes of Snapchat (200 Million) and Tumblr (230 Million) are not exactly languishing on the fringes. They are quite close to Twitter and Instagram in terms of user base, even though Facebook leads the way.

Tumblr is a unique blogging platform that offers myriad social networking features for those who log on. In terms of features it is closest to Facebook. You can chat with your connections, put up posts (called blogs), share posts by others and like posts. Your home page shows all your blogs and it can be viewed by anybody. One doesn’t have to be on Tumblr to see your homepage. The blogs can be photos, text or videos. What makes it more fun is the customization it allows. You can modify the home page and add new themes. The platform unique approach makes it very popular with bloggers looking to catch up with other bloggers. There are some limitations; you can’t publish blogs beyond a certain number.

Snapchat is a messenger where photos and videos delete automatically, there is a lot more to Snapchat. It is fast emerging as a platform for digital marketing as it’s quite popular with youngsters. Snapchat key highlight is the Story mode which allows individuals to broadcast a series of photos and videos with fun filters, text and drawings. A broadcast remains on the platform for 24 hours and can be seen by anyone on Snapchat. It is used by digital brands such as ESPN, Daily Mail, and Comedy Central to promote their content.

Reddit is a slightly off beat social networking platform which lays more emphasis on building conversation instead of encouraging random sharing of photos and videos. The design is a bit archaic but there is a wide variety of content to read. Reddit has strict guidelines and every post is scrutinized to ensure no one puts up offensive content. The Ask Me Anything is another popular feature of Reddit where an eminent personality takes up question from the Reddit community called Redditors. It has a unique section called suicide watch where Redditors try to talk people with Suicidal thoughts out of it.