When it comes to social networking sites, we have to say that we're not what you would call early adopters. Even when Facebook was overtaking MySpace in 2008, it took us over a year to decide that we want an FB account. As for Twitter, our then-employer had to force us to tweet. Actually, we really didn't get its appeal until late 2010. And, if you can believe it, it's only now that we are using our Instagram account more actively since signing up back in early 2012. Yes, we're quite the social media late bloomers and procrastinators, if you will. But then again, we're smart enough to know that social networking isn't about being first. It's about joining the club and being the most awesome member there is.
And speaking of the social media landscape, it seems like new players are trying their hands at building platforms that will rival the likes of Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. We'll take a look at some of the hottest social networking trends of 2013, so you can decide if these platforms are worth your time or not.
Chirp
With Chirp, you may think "Isn't this just another photo-sharing app?" You'd be right; but aside from pictures, Chirp can also share web pages, video, and "pretty much anything that can be stored on an online server." What makes this service unique is that it does all that sharing through sound, or to be more specific "by playing short tunes to each other." With Chirp, there's no need to sign up or use Bluetooth. When you want to instantly share your digital content, your phone will emit "a high-pitched, two-second-long, robotic squeak," which will then be picked up by other phones within the audio range and instantly download your photo or message. Think bars, boardrooms, and other crowded places. You can even share chirps by using a loudspeaker so you can reach huge audiences.
Pencourage
It's easy enough to create a virtual persona. On Facebook, you can have 3,000 "friends" and seem like a certified social butterfly. What's hard is freely expressing who you are, being honest (even when you're not showing your best side), and doing all of these online. This need to unload without hiding behind a fabricated persona is the main idea behind Pencourage. Marketed as "the anti-social" media website, Pencourage allows users to share their secrets "in a community that’s both supportive and eager to listen." To date, the site has "garnered over 3,000 users and well over 4,000 posts."
Pheed
Got amazing photos or funny videos? Why not get paid for them instead of just sharing them on Twitter or Instagram? Launched in October 2012, Pheed is a pay-as-you-go social network that gives users "the option of monetizing their pheeds." The idea behind this platform is simple, according to Pheed CEO and co-founder O.D. Kobo: "If you allow influencers to charge for content, high quality content will be produced." Users or Pheeders can share for free or at a premium and charge anywhere from $1.99 to $34.99 per view, or $1.99 to $34.99 per month.
Thumb
Ask anything and get instant responses is Thumb's secret sauce. And by anything, we mean questions like (1) Does this shirt look good with my new jeans? (2) Are these VoIP services expensive or not? (3) I got pregnant, should I have the baby?, and so on…Owing to the company's highly engaged user base, users usually get feedback; sometimes within minutes. It has also been reported that, back in December, Thumb users were seeing around 70 responses on average to their questions. You can just imagine the numbers now, considering the platform's simple but addictive premise.
Author Bio
Monique Jones is an Engineer who deals with telephone systems. Besides being an Engineer, she also works as a part time writer. She helps her colleagues and other people about their communication issues, giving effective solutions to address their needs.
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