Facebook doesn’t need any introduction. It’s the biggest social media platform in the world with billions of users flocking it every month. However, Facebook is not alone in the social space. There are several alternatives to Facebook that are equally popular. LinkedIn, Instagram, Yubo, MeWe, they are all good.
But the best alternative to Facebook is X (Formerly Twitter). Though the two platforms work differently, they share a common objective which to share ideas, seek information, fun, entertainment, and communication. In fact, it’s easier to communicate with big names and brands on Twitter than on Facebook. Â
What’s the need to explore Facebook alternatives?
Facebook has had its share of scandals, especially around privacy and user data.
Not only that but there’s also the issue of unchecked snooping and censorships – which have almost put the social media giant’s reputation in the gutter.
So, it’s no surprise that users’ trust in the company is at an all-time low. Because of how the company has been collecting lots of user data (photos, mobile numbers, and messages).
Plus, Facebook also owns WhatsApp and Instagram – which makes users even more concerned about their activities. They’ve also acquired several other popular services, meaning they may not live up to their original philosophies.
WhatsApp, for instance, promised users that they wouldn’t serve ads, but since its acquisition by Facebook, ads are now part of the service.
Facebook’s advertising business is also another channel for harvesting user data, making the fallout worse in the event of a data leak.
For consumers, all these security and privacy concerns are a nightmare.
But people are now wiser as to what Facebook is doing with their data – which is why they’re seeking out alternatives with better privacy controls and user data management.
Fortunately, there’s a slew of alternatives to Facebook – social networks and messaging apps – you can use to connect with loved ones and communicate with acquaintances worldwide. And you don’t have to fear that your data will be stolen or stored on huge data servers in unknown places.
Here’s a roundup of the best Facebook alternatives you can try.
Check out our other post that talks about open-source alternatives to Facebook.
Best Facebook Alternatives
1. Minds
Launched in 2015, Minds is a social network created by Bill Ottman, John Ottman, and Mark Harding – which is designed for users looking for a better alternative to Facebook that doesn’t skimp on their data. The network prioritizes your security and privacy, unlike Facebook, which collects your activity information to create algorithmic activity feeds.
The network is available from a website or through its mobile app for Android and iOS devices. It works like Facebook in many ways including user profiles, posts, feeds, groups, and sharing.
However, Minds has a unique feature: it incorporates its cryptocurrency – which you earn by creating engaging content. As a subscriber, you can use the Minds token (its cryptocurrency) to promote posts on Minds or exchange the tokens for cash or other cryptocurrencies.
Minds monitors your daily contributions relative to the community and gives you a particular amount determined by their percentage across the network.
The open source social network is community-owned, with a very active user base. The platform is also built on a foundation of transparency, freedom, democratization, and privacy.
Explore: Best Alternatives To WhatsApp
2. Vero
Vero is another Facebook alternative that rocks a beautiful design and is easy to use. The app-only service has a chronological timeline that displays all your feeds’ posts in order of when you published them – just like Facebook.
It also has its fair share of celebrities who use the social network, which gives the network a premium and legitimate vibe compared to other platforms.
Unlike Facebook, which shows ads and collects your data, Vero doesn’t have ads – and you won’t have to worry about your data. Its model is different because it doesn’t need your data to make money but to see how often people use the app (this option is off by default).
Plus, Vero turns its settings off by default, not like Facebook, which has everything turned on until you disable them yourself.
Vero also displays the usage data they collect about you and addresses things like data mining, ads, and algorithm-influenced feeds – which Facebook doesn’t address.
It has a sleek interface and exciting messaging features that make it a viable alternative to Facebook. And you can use it on the web or via your smartphone so you can connect and share content with your loved ones and acquaintances.
Its smartphone app is stylish with a premium feel and fresh design, and you can connect to your phone’s contacts, making it easy to find your loved ones who are already using Vero.
3. X (Formerly Twitter)
If you want a social network with a strong focus on news and engagement, X is a great alternative to Facebook. With an active user base of well over 350 million people tweeting about the latest happenings globally, you can’t go wrong.
The platform receives breaking news stories almost always before Facebook and other media sites or social networks. Plus, you can interact directly with journalists and editors, other users and make new friends too.
X offers strong support for its app and web versions, is very easy to use, and has a massive following.
Also Read: Best Tweetdeck Alternatives
4. LinkedIn
Want to connect with professionals, network with other people in your industry, find job openings, or learn more about your favorite brands? LinkedIn can do that for you.
Facebook is largely a social platform compared to LinkedIn – which is designed for professionals and like-minded people in different business verticals.
It’s one of the safest social networks with almost zero harassment or cyberbullying like you’d find on Facebook. And it has a large following of professional and highly engaged users on various business topics.
The platform has however evolved into a solid social network with a better activity feed and multimedia posts.
5. Instagram
If you don’t want to keep your old Facebook account or you just don’t want to join it altogether, Instagram is a good alternative. It may be part of the Facebook family of apps, but it’s still more exciting to use.
The social network has a focus on media – photos and video – so you can easily consume the posts published by loved ones, brands, or other users. And most Facebook users are probably on Instagram already so you may not miss out on much.
Instagram also doesn’t have discussions on politics, religion, or world news like Facebook does. In fact, it’s kept to a minimum so you’ll probably enjoy it as a social network more than you would with Facebook.
Also Read: Top Marketers To Follow On Instagram
6. Telegram
Telegram is a fast-growing app with millions of users. The app became suddenly popular after many Facebook users moved to the platform.
You’ll find the usual features like chats, texts, voice calls, media attachments, and fun stickers – you can also make your own stickers.
The app also supports group calls, continuous scrolling within chats, and you can form or join channels with many members.
Unlike Facebook, whose privacy policy is questionable, Telegram keeps your conversations safe using strong encryption techniques.
The messaging client is open source and free so it’s available to anyone who wants to join, and the server-side of its communication system is proprietary and closed. Plus, your data can self-destruct after a specified period and the app is safe from hackers.
You also get all the capabilities of Facebook messenger, add contacts easily, and start new chats quickly.
7. Reddit
Reddit is a social news aggregator that still makes for a good Facebook alternative. It offers forums for almost every theme you can think of and a community.
From recipes to video games, iPhones, and UFO sightings, Reddit has a thread for any and everybody.
Most of the forums are active, more than Facebook forums can be, and it’s relatively easy to join these discussions.
You can share content – which others upvote or down-vote, and it makes it more interesting because people keep sharing content so all the boring stuff disappears quickly.
You also get incentives called karma points, and the more points you get the more respected you are across Reddit.
There are also subreddits that you can find on almost any topic of interest. Whether it’s memes, business, pop culture, or politics, you can exchange views on anything without having to use your real names like on Facebook. You can register with any name you want without necessarily adding an email address.
8. Parler
Parler is a social media platform designed for conservative folks who don’t like Facebook’s spin. It’s described as a network for free expression without violence and a lack of censorship.
You can find friends on the app and see many celebrated leaders including Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, and Rudy Giuliani.
The app is like X (Twitter) for conservatives and has more than 1.5 million members.
9. Diaspora
Diaspora is a social world with functions similar to those of Facebook except it puts data back in your hands. It’s no wonder the network is a worthy Facebook alternative.
You can publish status updates, comment on others’ posts, and share posts or images.
Plus, you can control who sees your posts and use hashtags to find like-minded people with whom you share interests.
You can link it to your Facebook profile and use its chat feature to talk more with friends and loved ones.
It’s open-source and prides itself on decentralization. Your user data won’t be collected or stored by Diaspora centrally, and you can operate your own network or pod, which functions as a server.
There are over 750,000 registered Diaspora users so it’s not as big as Facebook, but the fact that you control your data and operate on a decentralized system makes it a worthy alternative.
10. Clubhouse
Clubhouse is a popular social network that’s a mixture of Messenger and podcast.
The app attracts users through the promise of exclusivity and innovative features and is based on the use of audio.
Facebook relies on text and images, but Clubhouse lets you talk with other users. You can open chat rooms to focus on specific areas of discussion, moderate discussions, or talk events. You can also raise virtual hands to speak using your microphone if permitted to.
11. Yubo
Yubo is a social network that doesn’t focus on tracking users and filling your feed with ads like Facebook does.
While it may collect some data, most of it is for optional activities and the company is very transparent about it. They have an easy-to-understand privacy policy with all terms laid out for you to read.
The network focuses on live streaming – which means you can create live sessions with an unlimited number of viewers and up to 10 different streamers. The app also lets you search for live streams based on topics, and you can follow the streamers you like so you know when they’re going live.
Yubo caters to younger – 13-25 – users but also has a community for users over the age of 18.
12. MeWe
Since MeWe’s launch in 2014, they’ve put privacy as a priority, compared to Facebook, whose privacy is questionable and the platform has many ads.
The platform displays content from people you follow and doesn’t mine or sell your private data. Instead, it generates revenue by relying on optional paid services.
You can buy more storage or pay more for your Secret Chat account or custom emojis respectively.
They vow never to track users, serve ads, or sell your data. And they have a business package, called MeWe Pro.
Your feed won’t be manipulated, you get a secure chat system, and you’re in control over what you see. They also support private and public groups, pages to follow, newsfeeds, chat features, and more.
You can use MeWe in 19 different languages and use your account to create posts, share content, and more.
13. Friendica
Friendica is also a decentralized social platform that’s more complex than Facebook, but it gives you more freedom. The open source network is a product of volunteer developers, who plan to make it friendly for non-techie users so they can access and use it.
With time, it will get more flexible, but to get started, you’ll simply create an account, install Friendica on a compatible system, and connect with others through your own server.
You can also integrate contacts from other platforms and use Friendica to post on other platforms.
14. Mastodon
With more than two million users, Mastodon is a great Facebook alternative you can use on the web or through your smartphone (Android/iOS). The app has a Twitter-like feel so it’s good for getting quick updates.
You can join a server based on your interest to start and follow people, and communicate with them on other servers. The feed is laid out nicely and in a straightforward style, and it’s decentralized meaning no single company owns it or can monopolize your communication like Facebook does.
15. Steemit
Steemit is a mix of styles like Quora and Reddit, where you publish your posts and people can upvote or downvote depending on whether they like your posts or not.
It’s a bit different from Facebook because you get Steem crypto tokens – which is like compensation for using the platform – Facebook doesn’t provide this.
And you don’t have to post if you don’t want to; just use it as a social and news aggregator or to follow conversations based on your interests.
It also doesn’t use your data or sell it to third parties so you’re sure of data privacy and security.
16. Raftr
Sue Decker – a former Yahoo executive – launched Raftr in 2017 to create a platform that focuses on conversations and unfolding stories.
You can connect to communities with shared interests as yours, and find out what’s happening or connect with people you know from work, family, or school.
Unlike Facebook, Raftr doesn’t share your personal data with third parties. The data they collect is only used to build your profile, and deliver content that’s based on your interests.
17. FamilyWall
FamilyWall is a good alternative to Facebook for keeping in touch with family members. You can use it on the web or on your smartphone and organize people through your to-do lists or shared calendars.
Plus, you get some good video and photo-sharing features, chat functionality, location tracking technology, and the ability to create private groups to share content outside your inner circle.
The platform keeps your communications in a private, secure cloud, and you won’t find ads like on Facebook, so no one will use behavioral data to profile you. Plus, FamilyWall doesn’t share it with third parties for commercial use.
Wrapping Up
Facebook may have millions of people visiting everyday, but it’s not necessarily the best platform or for everyone.
If you’ve been seeking other options, these Facebook alternatives are a good place to get started to scratch that social itch.
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