There has been a significant shift from public to private social media. While public forums have helped many connect with friends, family, and communities, a fraction still prefers privately relating in a digital space equivalent to a living space.
Private social media platforms allow you to choose who you want to communicate with and not share information in public forums. Private social media forums are meant for a group of immediate people or individuals.
Many users prefer private social media platforms as they offer a more intimate communication approach that mimics one-on-one communication. Socially mature brands also adopt private platforms to preserve a personal and original tone in their communication.
In this article, we shall discuss some of the most outstanding private social media platforms to look out for, their unique properties, and what you need to consider before settling for one. So let us get straight to it.
Best Private Social Media Platforms
1. Whatsapp
Whatsapp is a private messaging app that allows you to be yourself, feel close to people who matter to you, and speak freely no matter where you are.
The platform boasts over two billion users in more than 180 countries, offering simple, reliable, and secure messaging and calling services.
The platform was created in 2009 by former Yahoo employees Jan Koum and Brian Acton. It started as an alternative to SMS and rapidly grew to support multiple media like photos, texts, videos, locations, documents, and voice calls.
Whatsapp users mostly share some of their moments. For this reason, the app built end-to-end encryption to ensure that only you and the person you are communicating with can read your chats, not even Whatsapp.
Whatsapp joined Facebook in 2014. However, it continues to operate as a separate platform with features that strictly focus on building a fast and reliable messaging service around the world.
Additionally, it allows you to create a community through Whatsapp groups and transform your business.
With Whatsapp Business, you can engage your target audience, accelerate sales, and attain better customer support outcomes. Whatsapp Business supports businesses of all sizes and provides tools to help you automate, sort, and quickly respond to messages.
Whatsapp is free to download and use on iPhones, Android phones, and Windows PCs, although data charges apply.
2. Facebook Messenger
Facebook Messenger is owned and managed by Facebook. However, the app operates as a different social media platform and is available for download on iOS and Android operating systems, as well as your PC.
The platform is more than a consistent mode of communication. The tool allows companies to deepen customer relationships and build brand trust.
It makes it easier to stay close to people who matter, and the app powers conversations within Facebook, Portal, Instagram, and soon-to-be-launched Oculus.
Messenger was launched in 2011, and by 2017, the app had accumulated up to 1.2 billion users. The app operates like any other instant messaging app. Additionally, it lets you enjoy videos by watching movies, films, TV shows, and music videos with friends over video chat.
The app allows you to bring conversations to life with fun AR effects, selfie stickers, and message effects. You can also securely send or receive money by adding your PayPal account, debit card, or a reloadable prepaid card.
The end-to-end encryption adds extra protection and security to the platform, meaning nobody else can listen to or see what you sent, not even the app itself.
Facebook Messenger is free to download and use. Only data charges apply.
3. Signal
Signal lets you speak freely to people who matter the most. The tool has an unexpected focus on privacy and combines all the features you’d expect in a social media platform to make calls, and share videos, images, or text messages.
The platform uses state-of-the-art end-to-end encryption, which is powered by open-source signal protocol to keep your conversations secure. Signal keeps you connected to friends, coworkers, and family through group chats.
The best part about the app is that there are no ads or trackers. Yours is to focus on sharing special moments and creating memories. Signal was launched in 2014 by Signal Messenger LLC and Signal Technology Foundation.
The California-based platform has since supposed 40 million global users, and it’s continually working on top-north features for your safety.
Recently, Signal launched a new payment feature with anonymity where you can transfer funds to friends and family. The money transfer is majorly done through cryptocurrency, so you don’t have to worry about your privacy being compromised.
Signal is free to everyone.
4. Telegram
Telegram is a great private platform that quickly connects people, and what stands out with the tool is its privacy data protection, which is crucially important.
Its primary focus is to protect your content so that you can share exclusive content. Telegram is fun and powerful, and in addition to its lightning-fast messaging services, the app offers real-time support.
Telegram can be synced across devices and has since risen to the top 10 most downloaded apps. It banks its online success on successfully becoming a hybrid between a social network and a messaging app. Currently, the app has over 700 million monthly users.
In addition to sending messages, photos, videos, and files of any size, Telegram allows you to create groups of up to 200 users. You can also generate broadcasting channels for unlimited audiences.
Telegram combines email and SMS to take care of all your personal and business messaging needs. It is a perfect solution for anyone looking for extra privacy and revolutionary policies. Telegram got you with its secret chats feature if you want something secretive.
The cloud-based messenger only needs 100 MB on your device. It was first launched in 2013 for iOS, and in two months, the android version was launched. The Telegram development team is based in Dubai and successfully launched a monetization program in 2021.
Telegram is free.
5. 23snaps
23snaps lets you share memorable moments without exposing your loved ones to advertisers or other platforms.
As the name suggests, 23snaps enables you to share videos, photos, and memories of your younger family and is an excellent place to preserve kids’ milestones.
23snaps is designed for parents by parents. The platform was launched in 2012, and initially, it was only available for iPhone and through the website. The toll later grew to accommodate Android smartphones, iPads, and Windows.
The family-friendly platform has a free family album that lets you consolidate photos, videos, and unique stories of your child and privately share them with close friends and family. To use the app, you need to create an account or log in using your Facebook login credentials.
Once you log in, you can either create a profile for your children or connect with friends and family. To create a profile for your kid, you need their first and second name, gender, birth date, and profile picture, which is optional.
The platform can be accessed from anywhere. You can also invite your family members to get updates from the tool via email without visiting the site. 23snaps lets you instantly turn your media collections into an outstanding photobook or print order.
23snaps is free for all.
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6. Band
Band aims at facilitating the management of interpersonal communications. As a communication tool, Band supports chat functionalities, polls, albums, address books, scheduling, and boards.
Recently, Band surpassed the 50 million user mark worldwide. Its goal is to help leaders communicate better by eliminating long email threads, after working hours calls and texts, with a single group post.
Currently, Band is available in 179 countries and eight languages. The tool was designed with groups in mind, and a single group, also called Band, can accommodate up to 10,000 members.
You can create posts with attachments on Band and keep members accountable as you can see who has and hasn’t read your post using the “read by” feature. With Band, you won’t miss a thing. You’ll be able to see upcoming events and get notifications about posts and chats.
As a Band admin, you can also get help from co-admins to make group management easier. You can have up to 50 co-admins in a single group and save more time on managing groups through Band’s advanced management settings.
Band users’ privacy will protect you as much as possible. The tool has earned three certificates and industry-standard SOC 2, making it one of the most secure and safe communication channels.
The platform is available for download on Google PlayStore and AppStore for free.
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7. Nextdoor
Another excellent private social media site is Nextdoor. It seeks to connect people to neighborhoods that matter. By bringing together the possibilities nearby, Nextdoor helps cultivate a kinder world where everyone has people to rely on.
You can turn to the Nextdoor network to receive trusted information about your neighborhood, give or get help, get things done, and build real connections. By entering your street address, you will find a community of people living nearby and reach out to them instantly.
The neighborhood was previously made for communities in the US. Still, the tool has grown to benefit over 300,000 neighborhoods globally in 11 countries, including France, Germany, Sweden, Australia, the UK, and Denmark.
In addition to neighborhoods, Nextdoor is an excellent tool for businesses, non-profits, public agencies, and large brands. Trust makes Nextdoor a top choice among its users because it supports connection with real people and the local perspective.
Nextdoor is free and safe to download for android and iOS devices on Google PlayStore and App Store, respectively.
8. CaringBridge
CaringBridge prioritizes privacy with no external advertisements or selling of user data. The tool made it to the list because it allows you to keep your updates and news as private as you wish.
The platform allows you to set up a private website during a health crisis. The tool connects patients to an entire community creating a network of support for anyone involved. It eases the pain of updating friends and family about a loved one’s health condition.
CaringBridge was founded in 1997 with a mission to amplify hope, love, and compassion to make the health journey a lot easier. Each website created on this platform is unique, featuring outstanding designs, photos, and health updates that make up the story.
You can quickly get started with CaringBridge in five minutes. Sign up using your email address, connect using your Facebook account, or set up your private site using a Google account. You can personalize your site and choose privacy settings to control access to it.
You can also regulate whether you want your site to be discoverable on search engines such as Google, and once done, start sharing your health updates. You can make short posts or convert them into more extended journals.
You can also post a video or a photo, as your site is entirely what you need to say. Friends and family who visit your website can leave a message of support and love in the guestbook.
You can also ask your smaller circle to help you with some of the tasks by sharing the planning responsibilities.
CaringBridge’s most helpful section is the Help feature. The Help section makes it easy for you to communicate your needs. Here, you can start a GoFundMe for what you need in your recovery journey, create a meal train, or order groceries.
Make sure you also have a co-author to help you post photos, upload videos, and share updates. A co-author can also respond to comments and find ways to get help.
Over 300,000 people use this private communication tool daily. The platform is continually adopting following user feedback and is trustworthy, having been in operation for nearly 25 years.
CaringBridge offers live help and guaranteed support during a health crisis.
The platform is free to use and is available for download on Google PlayStore and AppStore.
9. MyHeritage
MyHeritage is a private and genealogy-based social media network that allows users to create family trees, update family histories, and upload and view family photos. Many users have used this platform to find and learn about their ancestors and ethnic origins.
For over 20 years, the tool has benefited millions of users across the world, and it supports 42 languages. The platform also introduced DNA testing to help users accurately trace their family histories and discover blood relations.
To undergo DNA testing, you’ll undergo a simple cheek swab with no blood or spit. The process only takes two minutes, and you will receive your results online in four weeks. All tests are done in a world-class CLIA–certified and CAP-accredited library in the US.
The DNA results demonstrate how closely you are related to your matches, but you can connect with your newly-found relatives to learn more about your lineage. It is also easy and free to create a family tree on MyHeritage.
Start with your names, dates, stories of your relatives, and photos. Share your new family tree with your family and allow MyHeritage to discover your ancestry for you and watch your tree grow.
As long as you have accurate content, MyHeritage will enable you to search through billions of records to uncover more about your family.
MyHeritage values your privacy the most, and the tool has made multiple investments to ensure that your data and account are protected using multiple layers of encryption.
MyHeritage offers a 14-day free trial and a free basic subscription plan to allow you to create a family tree of up to 250 people. If you wish to create a more enhanced family tree, go premium at $79 per year or subscribe to Premium Plus at $129 for a family tree of unlimited people.
10. HalloApp
HalloApp seeks to connect real people in real life in real private with no ads. It is a relatively new entrant in the digital space for people who know each other and a safe space to share what matters in your life.
The platform was founded by Michael Donohue and Neeraj Arora, who also played a key role in the development of the Whatsapp platform.
To use HalloApp, you need your phone number to connect with family, friends, or colleagues you’re already connected to within your address book.
Beyond your phone number, the app does not collect, store, or use your personal information. Your chats on HalloApp are end-to-end encrypted, meaning no one outside your chats can read your messages, not even HalloApp itself.
Since HalloApp’s mission is to help people stay connected and nurture genuine relationships online, the app rolled out audio and video calls, often reserved for close friends and family members.
Audio posts are also live on the tool, and you can use them in the main and group feeds.
HalloApp is available for free download on AppStore and Google PlayStore.
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11. Honk
Honk is a fast, fun, and private social media platform that allows you to be yourself and speak your mind with friends in real time. It is new in the market but is already taking the internet space by storm. Honk is redefining instant chatting and does not keep your chat history.
The tool saves you the hassle of typing and then hitting the send button. With Honk, messages appear live as you type them. The app also allows you to react in real-time using giant emojis, and you can see when your friends are online and free to chat with you.
Honk only allows two live messages at a time, so you don’t have to worry about thousands of messages piling up over time. The app gets more interesting by showing emotions, unnecessary pauses, and typos you often miss on other messaging apps.
If you wish to chat with an offline person, you can try honking or poking them to get them to say something. If you type a message before they join the chat, they will be notified. If they take longer to join the chat, leave an offline message for them to see on their own time.
The best news is that you can clear the offline message whenever you like it. An “Active badge” is displayed against their name when someone is online. To add a new friend, tap the add friend icon at the top right on your screen, then search for their username or real name.
It is ranked the 16th most popular social media app on AppStore.
Honk is free.
12. MeWe
Last on my list is MeWe. It offers a safe and fun social media experience you can control, love, and trust. The privacy-focused platform prides itself on the fact that it is ad-free and does not manipulate your news feed.
While it has similar functionality, layout, and appearance as Facebook, it is a more secure option and focuses on a more confined community. With MeWe, you run the show. You control your content and interactions and design your level of privacy.
The tool allows you to express your authentic self and challenges the status quo by making privacy a solid foundation for online social interactions.
With MeWe, you can post images and texts on your timeline, share other people’s content, create and join groups, and send disappearing messages.
While the platform is not open source and relatively new to the digital space, it does not use the newsfeed algorithm, meaning you can only see your friend’s content in chronological order. MeWe profiles are private by default, and you can block or report users.
MeWe is free. You can access it through the web or via a mobile app.
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Final Thoughts
There you go, some excellent private platforms to try out.
The best part is that most of them are free of charge, so you don’t have to worry about how much you need to set aside to share special moments with friends and family.