With new social media platforms popping up regularly, it’s easy to feel the urge to create an account on each one. However, this may not always be the best course of action. Before you hit “sign up,” consider a few important questions.
1 How Does the Platform Protect Your Privacy and Data?
Not all platforms uphold strict privacy standards. For example, WhatsApp has been known to share account details, such as your phone number, app usage, IP address, and other data with Meta and third-party partners to enhance its services. In contrast, some apps, like Signal, prioritize user security.
While it’s essential to avoid common social media mistakes that jeopardize your privacy, all your precautions will be futile if the platform doesn’t take privacy seriously.
Newer platforms particularly raise concerns regarding security. Jumping on board when a platform is still gaining traction could expose you to higher risks of data breaches or hacking incidents. One major warning sign to look for is if a site fails to provide clear terms or a privacy policy.
If maintaining your privacy is a priority, take the time to examine how the platform collects data, its privacy policies, and what privacy controls are available to users. Although no platform can fully guarantee safety during its growth phase, understanding its privacy principles will enable you to make smarter decisions.
Moreover, some recent platforms, such as Threads, are owned by reputable companies like Meta, which also manages Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp. In such cases, it’s prudent to investigate their history concerning user data before signing up.
2 Does the Platform’s Content Match Your Interests?
These days, social media platforms often specialize in a specific kind of content. For example, TikTok is all about short videos, whereas YouTube tends to focus on longer-form content.
Likewise, platforms like X (formerly known as Twitter) and Threads concentrate on brief posts, while Snapchat is built around fleeting, ephemeral content. Although Instagram and Facebook have entered the short-form video trend with features like Reels, their core purpose primarily revolves around image and video sharing.
Before you register for a new social media service, evaluate its type of content. If you’re someone who avoids short-form videos, it wouldn’t make much sense to join a platform centered on such material, would it?
3 Will the App Be a Distraction?
If you’re like me and often find it hard to focus, one major consideration when joining a new social media app is whether it will serve as a distraction. It’s all too easy to slip into a pattern of procrastination with social media, where what starts as a brief ten-minute break can quickly turn into hours of aimless scroll.
If you already have difficulty managing your time and want to reduce your social media intake, ask yourself whether adding yet another app will help your situation.
This concern is also closely connected to the kind of content a platform offers. Personally, I find short-form content highly distracting—I can easily lose hours watching one TikTok after another. Stopping is often a challenge.
Conversely, I can only watch so many posts of people reminiscing on Facebook before I lose interest. Therefore, think about the type of content the app promotes. If it provides valuable experiences beyond mere entertainment—like professional networking or educational opportunities—then the distraction could be worthwhile.
4 Who Will You Connect With on This Platform?
While content consumption occupies most of our time on social media, it’s equally important to consider who you’ll connect with on the platform. After all, social media is about more than just scrolling through feeds.
Different platforms cater to various demographics. For instance, Facebook generally attracts an older audience, while TikTok and Instagram are popular among Gen Z users. While all these platforms focus on entertainment, professional networking occurs primarily on platforms like LinkedIn.
Before signing up, reflect on the type of connections you want to foster—friends and family, influencers, or professional contacts? Then investigate the platform’s user base to ensure it aligns with your expectations.
Keep in mind that if you’re considering a new platform, it may not yet have a large audience, which could limit your potential connections.
5 What Features Does the App Provide?
Social media platforms are in fierce competition with one another. For instance, Instagram and Facebook introduced Stories and Reels to take on TikTok and Snapchat, while TikTok added Notes to compete with Instagram, among many other instances.
As established platforms continuously borrow features from one another, it’s no surprise that newer apps also attempt to replicate popular functionalities. However, those still in their early stages might lack core features that you rely on.
To avoid unnecessary hassle, it’s a good idea to check the app’s reviews and its description on the App Store or Google Play to ensure that it has the features you need. If it falls short, consider whether it’s worth the effort to create an account only to abandon it after a few days.
Moreover, before committing to a new platform, assess how often the app releases updates. Up-and-coming apps often face a range of technical issues, including slow load times, crashes, and features that don’t work as intended. Regular updates suggest a commitment to improving user experience, including addressing reported bugs and introducing enhancements.
6 Is the Platform Built to Last?
While not a concern for long-established social networks, newer platforms often have uncertain futures. Predicting whether an app will gain traction can be challenging.
You might assume that an app governed by a large corporation is destined for success, yet even popular companies can face setbacks. For example, Whee, launched in June 2024 by TikTok’s parent company as a photo-sharing alternative to Instagram, struggled to find followers.
Similarly, Lemon8, also from TikTok’s parent company, was released in 2020 as a photo and video-sharing service. Although it boasts hundreds of thousands of ratings on the App Store, it hasn’t reached the same level of popularity as other major platforms.
If you’re reluctant to invest in a platform that may not endure, opting for a more established community or waiting to see if the platform gains popularity might be the best course of action.
Before you create an account on a new social media platform, take time to consider all the aspects discussed above. Pay particular attention to the type of content you’ll engage with, the features available, and the demographic of users.