Social media took off in 2004 when Mark Zuckerberg and Dustin Moskovitz launched Facebook from their Harvard dorm room. Since then, social media trends have skyrocketed, especially among teen users.
Over the last eleven years, social media has exploded. Teens post to several apps every day. Here are the top seven apps they use, according to Pew Research Center.
1. Facebook
Facebook is the number one app, with 71% of teens 13 – 17 using it every day. Facebook is extremely easy to use, and can be used on the go with a Smartphone. Link your Twitter, Instagram, and other accounts to your Facebook page, and you’ll be sharing all of your doings with your followers.
2. Instagram
Instagram is extremely popular with teens, with 52% using it. Once the app is loaded on your Smartphone, it’s easy to snap a picture of anything you want and post it instantly. You can even share it on Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr with the click of a button.
3. Snapchat
Many teens also enjoy posting pictures and videos via Snapchat, but it’s not as easy to use as Instagram. 41% of teens use it.
4. Twitter
Twitter is still popular among teens, with 33% of them using it. With the ability to connect your Facebook page, Instagram, and other social media apps to your Twitter account, it’s easy to post content throughout the day. But many teens aren’t posting content directly to Twitter anymore. However, Twitter is a great place to hang out and chat with other users during events via Hashtags.
5. Google+
Google+ has become a bit popular with teens who already use Google for their email. Google+ gives users another place to post content, share it with friends, and find users with similar interests to follow. One advantage Google+ has over other apps: Google Hangouts. This app allows users to video conference each other, and even include up to ten people in a chat. 33% of teens are using Google+.
6. Vine
Vine is another video-sharing app, but only allows a six-second looping video clip. Some YouTube users will post a preview of their videos to Vine to entice new followers. Videos on Vine can be shared on Facebook and Twitter, once again making it easy to connect your networks. 24% of teens are on Vine.
7. Tumblr
Tumblr allows users to post multiple forms of content quickly and easily. You can connect other apps, such as Instagram, to your Tumblr account, so it posts automatically. 14% of teens use Tumblr.
These seven social media apps are the most popular among teens. Some apps are used by teens every day, several times throughout the day. Some are only used occasionally, and others only during certain circumstances. Try out a few to see which ones you like best.