X Factor: 13 Best Social Media Alternatives

Social media is entering a weird phase in its life.

Our two favourite slab-faced technology juggernauts, Zuckerberg and Musk, recently threatened to get into a cage fight to settle the score between them.

It seemed that the world might have the chance to watch the two entities covered in oil, writhing around and grunting at each other incoherently, thus confirming that they are in fact members of the human race. Unfortunately they decided to measure their testosterone in a much more profitable and society-wrecking kind of way, in order to stay on brand.

This year, two new social media platforms have been released - Zuckerberg’s Threads and Musk’s X.

With our big tech leaders currently engaged in a real-life version of that meme where Kevin Spacey is wearing a Kevin Spacey mask, it’s got us wondering about the best social media alternatives to each of the biggest platforms: Facebook, Twitter (sorry, X. X.), Instagram and Google.

Contrary to popular opinion, you’re not doomed to use platforms that were born from the fever dreams of billionaire lunatics. Here’s our rundown of the best social media alternatives that you can start using right now.

X (Twitter) alternatives

Looking for a Twitter alternative that’s more civil and less awful? We’ve done our research to narrow it down to the very best.

Bluesky

Within Bluesky, users can send 'skeets' in the form of text, images, or videos, and interact with other users by replying or reposting their skeets. The platform closely resembles Twitter, featuring a home feed comprising posts from followed users and a search tab to discover new content and users.

Though Bluesky may seem like a straightforward Twitter clone on the surface, it distinguishes itself by being decentralized. This decentralized nature has the potential to revolutionize how users engage with social media, offering increased transparency, privacy, and freedom from central authority.

It’s an exclusive club though. You’ll have to join a waitlist or get invited to be able to start using the platform.

Mastodon

Mastodon is a perfect place to start. It’s an open source social network and microblogging platform that supports 500-character long posts, media sharing, and hashtags. It has a User Interface (UI) and an extensive guide to getting started on its website. It’s also federated, meaning that content can be shared between different servers.

Unfortunately, take-up doesn’t seem to be huge right now. Most accounts have fewer than 1,000 followers.

Medium

If the idea of 500 characters still seems too limiting for you, consider using Medium. It's a popular website for long form blog posts and articles, but it also has a strong social media element where people can upvote, comment, or share stories they like. The ability to form groups and create conversations makes it a great platform for discovering new content and connecting with experts in your field.

Discord

Discord is another excellent Twitter alternative, known mostly for its use as a gaming communication tool. Contrary to popular opinion, it’s not just for gamers. It also has a strong community of content creators who come together to talk about what they’re working on and give each other advice. There’s even a Discord specifically to talk about solarpunk ideas, if that floats your boat (it floats ours).

Vero

Finally, if you’re looking for a Twitter alternate with a more warm, friendly, and down-to-earth atmosphere, give Vero a try. It provides an ad-free way to connect with your friends and make new ones, as well as share photos, movies, articles, and music. It also has a rewards program that allows users to earn points for engaging with the platform. 

Give me the head of the Twitter bird on a silver platter and nobody gets fired - Elon Musk

Facebook alternatives

Facebook is a great way to stay connected with family and friends around the world, but it's also rife with privacy risks, surveillance tactics, fake news and general horribleness. If you'd like to put some distance between yourself and the unblinking eye of Mark Zuckerberg, there are plenty of other options on the market. Here are some of the best Facebook alternatives to consider.

MeWe

This social network focuses on a simple, easy-to-use interface and emphasizes total privacy, individual control, and no ads. Some of its features are similar to other popular platforms, such as a news feed, groups and pages, and private messaging - but without tracking and snooping.

Minds

This social media platform features a News Feed, encrypted private messaging, and the ability to post articles, events, and media to your profile. You can edit your profile settings to customize your page, and you even earn tokens for being active on the site.

Instagram alternatives

There are plenty of options that offer a similar social media experience to Instagram with varying levels of customization.

Snapchat

For a more lightweight option, you might consider Snapchat. The app features an array of tools to communicate with friends, including text, photos, and video. In addition, users are able to use a variety of fun filters to customize their images while communicating with contacts. And they get bonus points for refusing to sell out to the other social media behemoths.

PixelFed

If you're looking for something a little more powerful, PixelFed is an Instagram alternative that offers users an opportunity to create custom photo streams, as well as store and share photos from other users. Not only is it focused and lightweight, but the site also is build around the concept of protecting user privacy.

Flickr

Flickr is essentially the "granddaddy" of all the alternatives to Instagram. It offers users powerful editing tools, filters and the ability to share and explore public photos. Plus, the app has a built-in chat feature to keep up with contacts in real-time.

Taken shortly before Cheryl’s feed was bombarded with adverts for wicker hats. How did they know?

Google Alternatives

Finding an acceptable alternative to Google services can be difficult. It's hard to compete with the vast range of search and web-based applications that come with a Google account. Fortunately, there are plenty of options for individuals who wish to escape Google's grasp. 

DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo is a popular choice for those looking for an alternative to Google search. It offers full-text searches and does not track user data. It also utilizes secure connections for increased safety. It’s also got a handy “burn” option, which deletes your entire history, cookies and cache in one click.

Sync

If you're looking for an alternative to Google Drive, your best bet is Sync. It offers free storage up to 10GB, allowing you to store and edit your documents online. It also offers collaboration options like version control and link sharing with an extra layer of security. 

Thunderbird

For a smoother email experience, Thunderbird is a great option. This program stands out with its built-in feature to access and manage multiple mail accounts at the same time. Plus, its mail filters and calendar integration add convenience and organization. 

“Well, you asked for a new kind of search engine…”
”You’re an idiot, Greg.”

In A Nutshell…

There’s a whole world of social media alternatives to be discovered.

Many of these sites are built on a foundation of respect for privacy, carefully selecting content and offering a wide variety of features. So, if you’re looking for an escape from the traditional, commercialized platforms that make up the ‘mainstream terribleness’ of social media – have no fear, an alternative is here!