Social networks are constantly evolving: here are the new social networks that dominate digital marketing, and will continue to do so in 2022.
The year 2021 continued to change many of our habits, including the ways we interact with people around us. In that sense, the different types of social networks that exist brought closeness at times when distance was the key to not contracting Covid-19.
And this effect continues in 2022, although with some changes, as new social networks and platforms that aim to meet these needs created by the current context emerge. In this way, the ways of consuming digital content change all the time and having a profile on new social networks can be very useful for both you and your business.
The number of users who opened a profile on a social platform grew by 13% in just one year according to the Digital 2021 Global Overview Report, 4 billion people use social networks as new forms of communication on a daily basis.
By 2022, an estimated 4.62 billion active social network users are expected to grow by 10% over the previous year, resulting in 58% of the population being part of new and traditional social networks.
Take back your sociable side, and get to know the new social networks that reign! First, let’s start with a list of the new social networks of 2021 that you may not know about and are new.
1. Caffeine
One of the new 2021 social networks for gamers
As you already know, a social network can be defined as a group of people who have links with each other, either by some commercial, friendship, work or familiarity, among others. And definitely one of the big reasons why millions of people were linked this year was in search of entertainment!
Online video games have always been one of the great attractions of the Internet. However, the gamer world has many other trends in gaming this 2021, such as game broadcasting. With the growth of online gamers and the emergence of experiences such as eSports, there are several new social networks 2021 that “compete” for this space and Caffeine is one of them.
While it has to compete with some of the social networks most used by young people, such as YouTube Gaming, Facebook Gaming or Twitch, the new social network Caffeine has taken the lead thanks to the fact that it simplified its proposal: the user is the real star, and not the other way around.
Caffeine allows:
Upload audiovisual content in less than a minute.
Interact in real time thanks to its chat.
Install it in a few steps.
Access to live streaming without software download.
Because of its fast content upload, Caffeine is the ideal new social network for gamers or content creators with communities with a lot of interaction. Remember that if you are among these cases, you can include video game advertisements and use them to your advantage!
2. Facecast
New social network 2021 that combines Youtube + Instagram
Although this social network was born in 2018, Facecast is experiencing its boom and that is why we include it within the new social networks of 2021. It has even been one of the most used social networks in these years and will surely be part of the trends to come.
We can describe the functioning of Facecast with 3 basic characteristics.
Live video broadcasting.
Random video chats.
Upload videos between 15 and 60 seconds.
Facecast is an ideal option for those who share their daily experiences, such as trips or meetings. It allows your audiences to follow those moments live in a very creative way. These are some of the actions you can achieve with the new social network:
Join different groups and broadcast your videos.
Create lists of the most popular videos and become a leader.
Create your own circle of friends.
In addition, one of its main functions as a new social network is random video chats. Here you can choose some characteristics of the person you connect with.
3. Howdoo (Hyprr)
A new secure social platform for users and content creators
Howdoo, also known as Hyprr, has only been in its trial version for a year, but it is already resonating for the transparency it offers. This new social network aims to build a more balanced relationship between creators, communities, advertisers and users, thanks to a very clear privacy policy.
Howdoo tries to offer the best of the most popular social networks, combined with the necessary transparency and balance between users, communities, creators and advertisers. It gives users full control of their personal data, allowing them to decide what to share and what not to share.
In a way, it aims to serve as an alternative to some of the most widely used social networks, such as Facebook and Instagram, having a social network model that respects users’ privacy.
Its pillars are:
No data will be sold to third parties.
Respect the interests of content creators.
Offer a different monetization system.
To approach this new monetization system, Howdoo has a virtual currency called μDoo, with which it rewards for participation.
4. Okuna
A new social network like Facebook, but without spies
Among the new social networks we are listing, we will tell you about Okuna.
Initially it was going to be called Openbook, as opposed to Facebook, since Okuna places special emphasis on information security. With user privacy as a central factor, this new social network does not track your activity and offers full transparency through open source.
A very noble point to highlight is that Okuna ‘s income is generated through an optional subscription, which includes the donation of part of these profits to causes with a positive influence on society. This undoubtedly makes it stand out from the rest of the new social networks and makes it ideal for those seeking sustainable platforms.
Its creators want to offer its users great possibilities of personalization, promoting an environment of friendship and respect among those who use the app.
5. WT. Social
One of the new 2021 social networks with good information
do you dislike Facebook because of its known data delivery? do you consider that Twitter promotes hate or incites aggressive communities? Then WT. Social is for you!
This new social network seeks healthy communication among its members, without fake news or ads.
And don’t worry about your data: the driving force behind WT. Social is Jimmy Wales, creator of Wikipedia, who assures that he will not sell the data of the community’s users, which is why it has already reached half a million logins.
Unlike the new social networks mentioned above, WT. Social is not yet developed as a mobile application, so its access is only through computers. Until a few months ago, you could only access through an invitation from other users, but now you can log in freely. take advantage of this to create your registration and enjoy the information you need without limits!
6. Tuned
The new social network for digital couples
The new from Facebook joins the list of new social networks for having a very peculiar proposal. Tuned is a new social platform especially dedicated to couples.
In this new social network, quite different from the most popular social networks that usually promote the creation of communities, the proposal is to eliminate the “noise” of other users you follow. On Tuned, couples prepare to live their “digital” love story without limits or embarrassment.
This platform allows couples to communicate quickly, share memories, create a couple’s diary and create dedicated playlists. Multiple functionalities for you to enjoy your partner’s intimacy.
7. ClubHouse
The 2021st social network for audio communication
have you already heard of ClubHouse? Surely you have, as some of the most used social networks such as Twitter or Instagram are inviting new users to join. In an apparent new era where verbal communication is intensifying, but not face-to-face, ClubHouse gives you the opportunity to join conversation groups on various topics.
Likewise, it emerges as an alternative to the already known social networks that predominate in the video format that worked so well in 2020. This new social network organizes online conversation spaces in audio format. Its dynamics is very simple but also interesting: both senders and the rest of the users can participate in the chat.
8. Twitter Spaces
Platform for sending audios
Although it was launched at the end of 2020, this new social network is the beta version of Twitter’s new audio functionality. It’s all about real-time audio rooms. Yes, as you can imagine, it’s a very similar idea to ClubHouse.
For now it is only available for the iOS operating system. However, we must keep a close eye on its updates as it is a trend-setter in the digital world.
9. Nextdoor
The new 2021 social network for neighbors
That said, you may wonder: what was it that prompted the creation of new social networks today? Social networks allow those communities we mentioned to meet in a virtual environment thanks to the Internet. As new social networks are created or existing ones are improved, these possibilities expand and adapt to different audiences, this is the case of Nextdoor!
The world’s largest neighborhood social network took a big leap in 2021 due to the global context. This platform offers a space to weave community between neighbors from different neighborhoods and in this way, promote conversation digitally. This new social network has more than 240,000 adhered neighborhoods.
are you running a local business? This is definitely one of the new social networks 2021 that you should study if you want to boost your sales by attacking the ideal target audience.
10. Goodreads
A new social network for readers
Although this platform is not specifically one of the new social networks of 2021 but of 2020, we add it in this list since it gained popularity in recent months. It can be said that it is a niche social network as it is specifically aimed at reading enthusiasts to share recommendations about books and publications.
If your business or venture launched a new ebook or plans to publish content of this type, you’d better keep an eye on this new social network.
11. Twitch
The new platform for streaming
This platform is a hit among video game fans, since it is based, more than anything else, on broadcasting live games. Although it is a platform that became popular in 2020, it gradually opened up to other themes and users, achieving its greatest success in 2021.
One of the main advantages is that, unlike other new social networks, it is not yet full of advertisements, so better conversion rates can be achieved, since users tend to pay more attention to the few existing ones.
12. Reddit
One of the new social networks to explore topics
This network is user-driven, since according to the rating they give to certain publications, these become more relevant.
It is a platform that integrates different formats: blog, audiovisual content, forums, entertainment and useful data on different topics for users. Unlike most of the new social networks 2021, where it is more likely to share information about the person, this platform safeguards privacy.
Reddit has an option to promote content, so it is ideal to include in your digital strategy 2021. On this platform, you can make ads in different ways; for example, you can promote yourself throughout the platform or segment the ad by topic.
13. Kwai
The new social network for short videos
Very much in the style of TikTok, Kwai was launched a few years ago in Brazil with the aim of being an app for sharing videos, socializing and interacting among users. However, 2021 was a key year for this platform, as it expanded in the region and also implemented its star feature: monetization through a referral program.
According to a Cisco study, “82% of all online content will be video content” by 2022. This shows how important it is to start using the new social networks that allow video format to make your brand stand out.
Currently, the app has more than 300 million users who, on average, enjoy 86 minutes a day of the different content shared on the platform, while generating revenue. Undoubtedly, one of the new social networks you should pay attention to.
14. Truth Social
After the mediatic expulsion of Donald Trump from the social network of the little blue bird, the former president did not stand idly by and at the beginning of 2022 created his new social network called Truth Social.
To the surprise of many, on the day of its launch it became the most downloaded social network in the Apple Appstore in the United States. In this way, the entrepreneur seeks to challenge the big media and proposes an interface very similar to that of Twitter. how far will this controversial character go?
Content that triumphs on new social platforms
The last aspect that you should be clear about before knowing which are the new social networks 2021, is the type of content that predominates this year. Based on this, you will be able to define what types of new social networks will be useful for your strategy. We tell you about the main approaches to content:
Short videos: TikTok will be the social network by experience that will determine the type of content trend in 2022. Thus, audiovisual content will be key to highlight your digital marketing strategies. If you are not in the new social networks that use it, you can try Instagram Reels.
Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality: the use of effects and filters will be a must in the creation of audiovisual content that will give brands the opportunity to achieve truly incredible experiences with their community.
Live Shoppings: we will see this below, but bringing the store to the comfort of each customer’s device is another key point that will be highlighted in social media content. The famous Hauls and even tours of physical stores.
Podcast: lastly, we’ve already seen that there are several new social networks that are dedicated exclusively to the audio format, and 2022 will see an explosion of this type of content!
Social media trends that apply to businesses
In case you have your own business or entrepreneurship, being aware of the latest trends in social networks is crucial to generate good digital marketing strategies. Not only because you must know what are the new hobbies and preferences of your buyer persona, but also because they are the new ways of digital consumption.
It is a fact that brands evolve hand in hand with the new social networks and their trends, not only in content but also in behavior. Let’s remember that the ultimate goal of a social network is to create a community, and what’s better than building your own community for your business?
According to the Digital Report of We Are Social, the digital trends report, these are the highlights:
Video Conferencing Apps
Although at this point we are not referring to social networks in particular, we can not fail to talk about the applications that have facilitated contact with friends, partners, family and co-workers. In the world of new social networks, we must consider video calling platforms.
From the traditional and conventional Skype or WhatsApp (which allows calls between 8 people) to the newest social networks. For example, applications such as Houseparty, Zoom or Jitsi Meets have risen to fame.
Facebook also launched its own social network for video calls. It is Messenger Rooms, which integrates with Facebook’s Messenger and allows video conferences with up to 50 users connected simultaneously.
Nowadays, brands are users of video conferencing social networks and should definitely take them into account for their digital marketing strategy, sales and even online events. To do so, we recommend that you thoroughly investigate all the options that exist in the market. An example of a new social network to generate live conversations that could be of interest to you is Twitter Spaces.
What is really important is that you take into account some of these key factors to achieve your objectives in the most efficient way:
where is your target audience located?
how many people does a video conference of that social network allow simultaneously?
is it easily accessible? does it have content creation tools?
is it paid? can anyone join my meeting?
Source: Getty Images
Gamification
As we saw above, some of the most successful new social networks are related to the world of video games. And this world has seen one of its biggest growths in the last year. According to the report: “the daily time spent using a game console increased to 1 hour and 12 minutes”.
Thus, it should come as no surprise that both the content and the dynamics and strategies of the new social networks in 2022 will be based on the concept of gamification. are you familiar with those marketing strategies that propose different levels of access and even rewards for customer achievements? These and many more actions come out of the world of gamification.
As well as the launch of more social networks that attack this target audience, from online gaming platforms to streaming. For brands targeting the same audiences, it will be important to keep them on the radar in case they find a new niche for display ads or organic actions.
Remuneration for content or services
If you’ve been in the world of social media marketing for a while now, you won’t be surprised to learn that 7 out of 10 users pay for some type of digital content on a monthly basis. And we know that the best of services takes time, effort and a lot of budget.
Therefore, a great digital strategy for brands is to offer some kind of subscription for more and better services. As practiced by the new social networks, the concept of Rewards to content creators can be imitated in the business environment. Yes, just as you read it, it is a “reward” that your followers give you for your content and for accessing something more of your proposal. For example, this is the case of TikTok Rewards
Marketplace and stores
Another trend in new and not so new social networks is the appearance of online stores immersed within the same platform. Such is the case of Instagram’s Store or Facebook’s Marketplace, two products that definitely change the ways of consuming today.
And that is why, as a brand, you must take into account these spaces of contact with the community, since in many cases these marketplaces have their own intelligent search engine and even allow you to make promotions. According to the Digital Report, 27.6% of users discover new brands, products and services through ads on social networks.
If the catalog of your business is really wide or maybe you do not sell products, but services or experiences, it does not mean that you cannot use these new social networks as a sales channel. As stated in the report, 58.4 % of users buy something online every week
Influencers
The new social networks give rise to the emergence of new opinion leaders, who together with the work with brands and paid collaborations, determine the direction of digital commerce. In the case of 2022, we cannot fail to mention the network with the highest growth in young people and teenagers: TikTok.
It is the hotbed of new personalities that act as macro and micro influencers in short and attractive videos. And by millions of followers we do not mean influencers, but those people who have the ability to achieve a certain action in their audiences.
Such is the case of the American influencer Avani, with approximately 40 million followers and earnings that exceed 4 million per year. One of her many collaborations is with Valentino Beauty and a video that in just one day collected more than 330K views and 31k likes.
In short, one of the advantages of social networks, new and old, is that they help to connect people within the virtual world, either to build new social connections or to nurture and maintain existing ones.
The new social networks 2022 presented in this article are different options for you to create your own safe, comfortable and creative virtual environments. The important thing is that you evaluate what your brand needs and what is the best way to achieve it.
follow these trends according to the needs of your audience and achieve those goals you always wanted!