Everybody uses social media. I honestly don’t know anyone who’s Facebook-free, untaken by Twitter or bereft of blogs (a shout-out to all reading this now, by the way). And sure, they’re great; they do things that help us function; they’re the ubiquitous comm-stream keeping us connected. But did you ever wonder if there’s more out there? Something more you?
It’s like cinema. You’ll get blockbusters breaking box office records, ticking all the CGI requirements, shoehorning in the ever-present, ever-predictable plot-twist, winning Oscars and taking the filmographic glory. But somewhere, in the deepest depths of the art-film aether, there are masterpieces with less credit than they deserve. Films that speak to you directly; without all the red-tape filters and artistic restriction.
Today, I’m your social media IMDb, introducing social sites you’ll never be able to live without. From the top:
Rather than uploading one hundred pictures to Instagram, and then to Facebook, and then storing them all in your Dropbox folder, this nifty app can be programmed to recognise this process, and action it for you automatically. Or in other words: If Instagram, then Facebook and Dropbox. It’s hooked up to over 87 social media sites too, for maximum functionality.
There’s nothing more pleasing than serendipity, and Glancee is designed to increase your chances. It’s a social discovery site that matches people with similar interests and mutual friends, and helps you to keep track of everyone you’ve met - especially if you’ve got a lot in common.
If you’ve ever been stumped by a colleague or customer who’s not on LinkedIn, ban.jo might just be the answer. It collates all kinds of social media in one place, allowing you to see where your friends are in real-time - as well as boasting a comprehensive social feed, based on trending topics across the social spectrum.
Sometimes, the hardest part about getting stuff done is having the motivation to go out and do it. 43things is a three million-strong community of people “who list their goals, share their progress, and cheer each other on”. Brimming with advice and people invested in your stories, who needs a personal trainer?
And finally…
The self-proclaimed ‘front page of the Internet’. It’s a beautiful place, brimming with enthusiasts from every background you can imagine. No matter what your interest may be, there’s a subreddit for it, and a whole like-minded, devoted community to match. Content is fresh, original, inspiring, hilarious, sad, morbid, ecstatic, interesting, boring (see www.reddit.com/r/notinteresting for some examples); no matter how you’re feeling, and no matter whether you’re there for business or pleasure, reddit will have something for you.
It’s a favourite for those in the spotlight too; AMAs or Ask Me Anythings are posts created by interesting or famous people (such as Samuel L. Jackson, The Oatmeal, and Bill Gates to name just a few), inviting users to ask their most pressing questions, for frank and sometimes revealing answers.
It’s got a thriving community, and it gets the latest news faster than any other social site out there. The UI takes a bit of getting used to, but it’s so worth the trouble.
That’s it from me. If you’ve got any others you’d like to share, let us know @folkwithpurpose.
Happy socialising,
Louis