By a show of hands, who else had a Myspace account? Why is my hand the only one up? Back then there were no social media alternatives.
At the time, it was trailblazing and has influenced many of the modern names you’re more familiar with.
Facebook, Instagram, X Twitter and YouTube.
But are these industry giants, commonly referred to as “Big Tech” still at the top of the food chain?
As a business, you want to be agile enough to adjust to changing trends. One way to stay flexible is to become an early adopter of social media alternatives.
Read on for evidence to back this up…
Table of Contents
Reasons To Consider Alternatives
The end of 2020 threw traditional marketing wisdom into a blender and hit the “high-power” setting. Now growth in alternative social media is making the mainstream take notice once again as the 2024 election heats up towards November.
So, if you’re a small business owner or social media professional, how should you respond?
According to Gary Vaynerchuck, “The upside of being an early mover in a new platform is so much greater than the downside of waiting there for months only to find it didn’t pop.”
He further states the ideal entry time is prior to their ad product maturing. Once advertising becomes expensive, research the next hot platform and shift.
From a digital marketing perspective there are multiple reasons to consider other options:
- General pushback against Big Tech’s lack of oversight
- Trump’s ban from social platforms changed sentiments
- Parler’s ban on app stores increased popularity among free speech and privacy advocates
- Possible antitrust action by legislators
As you’ll see later, President Trump’s effect is something non-partisan data sources support. Please note, this isn’t a political blog but simply a fact-finding mission.
Let’s all agree to take our leanings out of this equation and look for mutual opportunities to enjoy thriving businesses. Deal?
Pounding its perpetual chest, Facebook is the natural “king of the hill.” Starting with them makes the most sense.
Keep reading for how their hold on the industry is being contested.
Is There a Social Media Alternative to Facebook?
MeWe began as a beta in 2012, eventually entering the mix in 2016. This free speech alternative to Facebook champions itself as an honorable protector of user data.
A novel idea, they figured members should own their own data. What a novel concept!
They experienced an influx of capital in 2018, $5.2 million to be exact. Investing is a good sign, especially when it includes backing from people like Jack Canfield, creator of Chicken Soup for the Soul.
Some selling points:
- No ads or sponsored content
- Newsfeed under your control
- Texting app similar to Facebook Messenger
- Trust and transparency are at their core
Healthy alternatives to social media like MeWe enjoyed serious awareness after two events: Trump and Parler. How did its popularity change during the periods immediately after?
Well, two days after Biden entered the White House it ranked 4th on Apple’s App Store. A very public de-platforming of Trump from Twitter during a heated presidential campaign surely played a part.
Plus, conservative supporters experienced similar issues on X Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.
A TechCrunch article noted its rapid rise over the course of 72 hours after Parler was banned in January. They enjoyed 1 million new members and ranked number 7 in the category of “U.S. App Store’s Top Free Overall” charts.
To put things in perspective, in October 2020 it’d been unranked. Meaning it wasn’t a top 1,500 app!
Beyond MeWe, there are two more solid contenders to take a look at.
What Are the Best Social Media Alternatives?
Our social network list isn’t complete without reviewing a couple of entrants that could give Big Tech a run for its money. Not just social media but even search engines.
Revisiting the TechCrunch article from above, we’ll start with a very promising one.
Gab
Founded in 2016, its CEO Andrew Torba observed firsthand censorship and a disregard for the consumer while working in Silicon Valley.
It’s been compared to Twitter, but in my opinion, it’s a hybrid combination of Facebook, YouTube, AND Twitter. One thing that sets it apart from MeWe is the area of funding.
Between its founders, crowdfunding, premium subscriptions, and user donations, it enjoys solid infrastructure. And everything from servers to payment platforms is internally hosted.
Why does this matter? It isn’t reliant on outside influences to keep it running smoothly.
Statistics directly from Gab:
- 95% of their traffic is direct
- 100 million+ page views monthly
- 15 million+ unique visitors monthly
- 80% of users are based in the US
Censorship of conservatives, data breaches, and a recent worldwide outage at Facebook are leading to new accounts.
And the day after Parler went offline, Torba said 600,000 new users were added in hours.
TechCrunch confirmed this rapid change as an unrelated app called “Gab News” rose to number 44 on the App Store in “Top Free Apps.” A local news app in Georgetown, it was mistaken for Gab which has been banned by all app stores since its launch.
With plans for a marketplace, ad product, and maturing of GabTV, all these add up to lucrative potential. And larger corporations haven’t entered its market yet, providing a unique opportunity for small businesses.
Parler
Much of the talk up to this point has been on the removal of Parler. However, it has been reported it is trying to make a comeback this year with a new owner.
Founded in 2018 with the intention of combating privacy abuse and censorship, it initially started taking small chunks away from Twitter.
It eventually earned the top spot as the most downloaded app following Biden entering the White House. Conservatives were a big part of that outcome, as they departed Twitter following its ban on the President.
TechCrunch noted that immediately after Parler’s ban, an app under a different spelling (“Parlor”) saw 99,220+ new users join over a 48-hour span. A classic case of mistaken identity.
Hence, by the end of that 2-day stretch, it had reached Apple’s number 4 in “Top App Overall on iOS in the U.S.”
Final Thoughts: Social Media Alternatives
My freelance writing business Elijah Wordsmith has taken an early adopter approach on Gab. Exiting Facebook and Instagram went against all the digital marketing advice I had heard up to that point.
Their focus on small businesses and encouraging referrals within the community has me the most excited. Time will tell if it stands the ongoing attacks from its competitors at Big Tech.
But these actions from outside cement in my mind that Gab is a real player and worth pursuing. This isn’t a personal plug for the platform, just an example to mull over.
However, private medical practices could also benefit from taking a chance on these newer social networks. Dealing with trends and issues the healthcare industry faces, visit my blog for more helpful content.
Are you using any social media alternatives today? We’d love to know more in the comments below.
FAQs on Alternative Social Media Networks
What is an alternative social media network?
An alternative social media network is one that is not part of big tech, ie: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, etc.
Why should you consider using an alternative social media network?
There is higher growth on the newer social networks and it is easier for you to get noticed on them. If you do any ads on the platforms it is less expensive than the big tech sites.
Is there an alternative to Facebook?
MeWe is the alternative social network for Facebook that has been around since 2012.
What are some alternative networks to X Twitter?
Parler, Truth Social and Minds are similar to the Twitter social network.
What are some hybrid alternative social media networks?
Gab is a combination of Facebook, X Twitter, and YouTube.
Is there an alternative video social network?
Rumble and Brighteon TV are a few alternatives to the YouTube social media network.
What are some other alternative social media networks out there?
There is Gettr, One Amend, Hive Onboard, Boxy Social, FreeTalk, Pixelfed, and Klero to name a few.
