Social media has become an integral part of our daily lives. It has transformed the way we connect, communicate, and share information with others. Social media platforms have also created new opportunities for businesses to reach a wider audience and engage with their customers.
While there are many social media platforms that originated in Singapore, some of the biggest names in social media were founded elsewhere.
In this article, we’ll explore the top international social media platforms that weren’t founded in Singapore.
#1. Facebook
Founded by Mark Zuckerberg in 2004, Facebook has grown to become the world’s largest social networking platform. The site was initially developed as a way for college students to connect and share information with each other, but it quickly expanded to include users from all over the world. As of 2021, Facebook has over 2.8 billion monthly active users, making it the most widely used social media platform on the planet.
#2. Instagram
Instagram was founded in San Francisco in 2010 by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger. The platform allows users to share photos and short videos, and has since become one of the most popular social media platforms in the world. As of 2021, Instagram has over 1 billion monthly active users, with more than 500 million of those users accessing the platform every day.
#3. Twitter
Launched in 2006, Twitter has become one of the most popular social networking sites in the world. The platform was founded by Jack Dorsey, Biz Stone, and Evan Williams, and has grown to have over 330 million monthly active users. Twitter allows users to share short messages, or “tweets,” with their followers, and has become a valuable tool for businesses, politicians, and celebrities to connect with their audiences.
#4. LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a professional networking site that was founded in 2002 by Reid Hoffman. The platform allows users to connect with colleagues, build professional networks, and share industry news and insights. As of 2021, LinkedIn has over 740 million registered users, with over 260 million of those users accessing the platform every month.
#5. Snapchat
Snapchat was founded in 2011 by Evan Spiegel, Bobby Murphy, and Reggie Brown. The platform allows users to send photos and videos that disappear after a short period of time. Since its launch, Snapchat has become one of the most popular social media platforms among younger users. As of 2021, Snapchat has over 500 million monthly active users.
#6. TikTok
TikTok is a social media platform that allows users to create and share short videos. The platform was launched in 2016 by Chinese company ByteDance, and has since become one of the fastest-growing social media platforms in the world. As of 2021, TikTok has over 1 billion monthly active users, with over 80% of those users aged 16 to 34.
#7. YouTube
YouTube was founded in 2005 by three former PayPal employees, Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim. The platform allows users to upload, share, and view videos, and has become one of the most popular social media platforms in the world. As of 2021, YouTube has over 2 billion monthly active users, with over 1 billion hours of video watched on the platform every day.
#8. WhatsApp
WhatsApp is a messaging app that was founded in 2009 by Jan Koum and Brian Acton. The platform allows users to send text messages, make voice and video calls, and share photos and videos. WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps in the world, with over 2 billion monthly active users as of 2021.
#9. Pinterest
Founded in 2010 by Ben Silbermann, Paul Sciarra, and Evan Sharp, Pinterest is a social media platform that allows users to discover and save ideas for their hobbies, interests, and projects. The platform has become especially popular among users interested in fashion, food, and home decor. As of 2021, Pinterest has over 450 million monthly active users.
#10. Reddit
Reddit is a social news aggregation and discussion platform that was founded in 2005 by Steve Huffman and Alexis Ohanian. The platform allows users to post and share links to news articles and other online content, as well as participate in discussions on a wide range of topics. As of 2021, Reddit has over 430 million monthly active users.
These international social media platforms have had a significant impact on the way we interact with each other online. They have revolutionised the way we share information, connect with friends and family, and consume news and entertainment.
While Singapore has its own local social media platforms like Carousell and Moneysmart, these international platforms have become household names around the world.
In recent years, social media has faced increased scrutiny over issues such as privacy, data security, and the spread of misinformation. Many of these platforms have also been criticised for their handling of hate speech and other forms of harmful content.
Despite these challenges, social media remains an important part of our daily lives, and these platforms continue to evolve and adapt to meet the changing needs of their users.
Social media has become an integral part of our daily lives. Whether it is to connect with friends and family, follow our favorite brands, or discover new interests, social media has it all.
With the continuous growth and evolution of the social media industry, new apps and platforms are constantly emerging to meet the ever-changing needs of consumers.
In 2023, we can expect to see a wave of new social media apps and platforms that offer unique and innovative features. From social shopping to video sharing, here are 19 new social media apps and platforms that you need to know about.
- ForeSee: This social media platform is designed for consumers to rate and review their shopping experiences. With ForeSee, consumers can share their opinions on products and services and help other shoppers make informed decisions.
- DineWithMe: DineWithMe is a social media platform that connects food lovers with local chefs. Users can browse menus and book private dining experiences in their area.
- Fyuse: Fyuse is a new social media app that allows users to capture 3D images and share them with their followers. Users can swipe around the image to see it from different angles, giving a unique and immersive viewing experience.
- Candor: Candor is a social media platform designed for professionals to connect with each other and share job opportunities. Users can create a profile, showcase their skills and experiences, and connect with potential employers.
- Trippin: Trippin is a social media platform for travellers. Users can share their travel experiences, connect with other travellers, and discover new destinations.
- Wype: Wype is a social media platform that connects car enthusiasts with each other. Users can share photos of their cars, discuss modifications and upgrades, and connect with local car clubs.
- Squad: Squad is a social media app that allows users to create and join video chats with their friends. Users can watch videos together, share their screens, and chat in real-time.
- Whistle: Whistle is a social media platform for pet owners. Users can share photos and videos of their pets, connect with other pet owners, and discover pet-related products and services.
- Bevy: Bevy is a social media platform that connects event organizers with attendees. Users can create and share event invitations, sell tickets, and manage guest lists.
- Deemly: Deemly is a social media platform that uses a user’s online reputation to build trust and credibility. Users can link their social media profiles, online reviews, and other information to create a comprehensive reputation score.
- Peerio: Peerio is a social media platform that offers end-to-end encrypted messaging and file sharing. Users can send messages, share files, and make voice and video calls securely.
- Nexar: Nexar is a social media platform designed for drivers. Users can share real-time traffic updates, report accidents, and warn other drivers of potential hazards.
- Vero: Vero is a social media app that offers ad-free and algorithm-free browsing. Users can share photos, videos, and links with their followers, and see their content in chronological order.
- Olio: Olio is a social media platform that connects neighbours with each other to share surplus food. Users can post listings for food that would otherwise go to waste, and other users can claim and collect the food for free.
- VeeR: VeeR is a social media platform for virtual reality (VR) content creators and enthusiasts. Users can upload and share their VR experiences, connect with other VR enthusiasts, and discover new VR content.
- Tattle: Tattle is a social media platform that aims to combat misinformation online. Users can report and flag false or misleading content, and the platform uses machine learning algorithms to identify and remove it.
- Mono: Mono is a social media platform that focuses on mental health and wellbeing. Users can connect with mental health professionals, access resources and support, and share their experiences with other users.
- Rize: Rize is a social media platform that combines social networking with e-commerce. Users can browse and buy products from their favourite brands, and connect with other shoppers to get recommendations and reviews.
- RealTalk: RealTalk is a social media platform that encourages authentic and honest conversations. Users can join discussion groups based on their interests, and participate in open and honest conversations with other users.
Facebook is the largest social media platform, with over 2.8 billion monthly active users worldwide. It is the most popular social media platform in North America, Europe, and Africa. Facebook is an excellent platform for businesses to connect with their audience through posts, groups, and paid advertising.
Facebook is particularly effective for B2C companies as it is a platform that users are likely to visit daily, and the paid advertising options are very detailed, enabling businesses to target specific audiences based on demographics, interests, and behaviours. Facebook is an excellent platform to reach older audiences, with 62% of online users aged 65 or over using Facebook.
Instagram is a photo and video-sharing social media platform with over one billion monthly active users worldwide. It is most popular with younger audiences, with 71% of Instagram users aged under 35. Instagram is a visually driven platform, making it ideal for businesses with strong visual content.
Instagram is an excellent platform for B2C companies in the fashion, beauty, and lifestyle sectors. The platform is particularly effective for influencer marketing, with over 90% of marketers using influencer marketing on Instagram.
Twitter is a social media platform that enables users to post and interact with short messages, known as tweets. With 330 million monthly active users, Twitter is most popular in North America, Europe, and the Middle East. Twitter is a fast-paced platform that is particularly useful for B2B companies looking to engage with industry peers, customers, and stakeholders.
Twitter is a good platform for sharing industry news, thought leadership, and opinion pieces. Hashtags are used widely on Twitter, making it easy for users to discover content related to specific topics or events. Twitter is also a great platform for customer service, with 80% of customer service requests on social media happening on Twitter.
LinkedIn is a professional social media platform with over 740 million members worldwide. It is most popular in North America, Europe, and Asia. LinkedIn is a great platform for B2B companies to connect with industry peers, share thought leadership, and recruit talent.
LinkedIn is a platform that is particularly effective for lead generation, with 80% of B2B leads coming from LinkedIn. The platform is also an excellent tool for recruitment, with over 90% of recruiters using LinkedIn to find candidates.
TikTok
TikTok is a social media platform that enables users to create and share short-form videos. With over one billion monthly active users worldwide, TikTok is most popular with younger audiences, with 69% of users aged under 24.
TikTok is a great platform for businesses looking to connect with younger audiences, particularly in the fashion, beauty, and entertainment sectors. TikTok is an excellent tool for influencer marketing, with over 86% of marketers using influencer marketing on the platform.
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing platform with over two billion monthly active users worldwide. It is most popular in North America, Europe, and Asia. YouTube is an excellent platform for businesses with visual content, particularly in the fashion, beauty, and lifestyle sectors.
YouTube is a great platform for influencer marketing, with over 90% of marketers using influencer marketing on the platform. The platform is also a great tool for customer education, with businesses able to create videos to educate customers about their products or services. YouTube is also a great platform for businesses to connect with influencers and collaborate on content.
WhatsApp is a messaging app with over two billion monthly active users worldwide. It is most popular in Asia, Europe, and Latin America. WhatsApp is a great platform for businesses to communicate with customers through chat, voice, and video calls.
WhatsApp is particularly useful for small businesses that want to connect with customers on a personal level. It is also an excellent tool for customer service, with businesses able to quickly respond to customer queries and resolve issues.
WeChat is a messaging and social media app with over one billion monthly active users, primarily in China. WeChat is an all-in-one app that enables users to send messages, make voice and video calls, and pay for goods and services.
WeChat is a great platform for businesses looking to connect with Chinese customers. The platform enables businesses to create accounts, run ads, and sell products through the WeChat store. WeChat is also an excellent tool for influencer marketing, with Chinese influencers known as Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) having a significant impact on purchasing decisions.
Line
Line is a messaging app with over 187 million monthly active users, primarily in Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand. Line is an all-in-one app that enables users to send messages, make voice and video calls, and pay for goods and services.
Line is a great platform for businesses looking to connect with Japanese, Taiwanese, or Thai customers. The platform enables businesses to create accounts, run ads, and sell products through the Line store. Line is also an excellent tool for influencer marketing, with Japanese influencers known as Line Creators having a significant impact on purchasing decisions.
Snapchat
Snapchat is a messaging and photo-sharing app with over 293 million monthly active users worldwide. Snapchat is most popular with younger audiences, with 75% of users aged under 34.
Snapchat is a great platform for businesses looking to connect with younger audiences, particularly in the fashion, beauty, and entertainment sectors. The platform is particularly effective for influencer marketing, with over 63% of Snapchat users saying they have made a purchase based on a Snapchat influencer recommendation.
Conclusion
Social media has changed the way we interact with each other online. From Facebook to TikTok, these international social media platforms have become an integral part of our daily lives.
They have allowed us to connect with friends and family, share information and news, and discover new ideas and interests.
While Singapore has its own local social media platforms, these global giants have become household names around the world. As social media continues to evolve and grow, it will be interesting to see how these platforms adapt to meet the changing needs of their users.
