The general changes big social media apps keep introducing have been reported as harmful towards how content creators get paid, because the changes are making it much harder for creators to monetise. This was also pointed out at the University Of Sussex, with Dr Hamid Khobzi having said, “The prosperity of content creators and their favoured social media channels goes hand in hand. However, recent examples such as changes to Instagram Reels which lost creators up to 70% of earnings per view, and YouTube penalising historic content for profanity, have tested this faith.”
“Established platforms and their shareholders have reason to be worried if influencers abandon them. But around seven in ten content creators don’t know anything about the new tech coming down the line or the opportunities it could open up. We ran this study to help creators prepare for what’s coming.”
They suggested that Web3 become the new way for creators to earn through a crypto system. Khobzi added: “The wealth generated by these platforms is shared with users in direct exchange for creating and curating content. This kind of cryptocurrency-based token economy offers hopes of a fairer deal for the creatives that all social media platforms rely on.”
While it may be early days for this, there is a short-term solution: using newer social media apps and testing them out. But the main issue remains: how do creators get audiences to move from their primary social platforms?
How Can Startups Convince Audiences to Switch Platforms
It’s important to remember that the launch of a new social media app does not take away users’ right to continue using the ones they already do. Most of the time, users will download an app that they find valuable. Instagram was first valued for images, TikTok for short-form content, and YouTube for long-form content. Each was the first of its kind, creating a new form of content creation, yet most users did not pick one over the other. Finding a niche does however give users more reason to try it out.
This, of course, cannot be achieved without a marketing strategy. As a startup, you need to invest wisely in creating marketing efforts that capture the right audiences. After identifying the market in which you’d like to perform, for example, creating an app that properly compensates content creators, you’re able to start looking for your potential audiences. Understanding what they really need, through deep research and testing, will inform almost all aspects of the app’s requirements, including the marketing.
5 Newly Launched Social Media Apps
These 5 apps have been released within the last 4 years, and have been selected for the niche source of value they provide for either content creators, or its users…
1. FanHouse
FanHouse is the platform designed for content creators. Here, creators make money directly from their followers. If you’re a personal trainer, this is a great content platform where you can put content behind a paywall, send personalised workout routines directly to those who pay, in chats and DMs. The platform only takes 10% of the creator’s earnings, making income possibilities much better. This app was launched in 2021.
2. AirChat
Referred to as “social media’s new kid on the block” this 2024 released app is designed as a speech-to-text chat platform. Airchat lets users record their posts using their voice, and these are automatically transcribed into text with AI, for a mix of audio and written content. It allows users to interact through a feed that does the same, with options to reply or send direct messages via voice, sointeractions feel more like natural conversations. It supports hands-free media consumption and improves accessibility for those who find typing challenging or time consuming.
3. Glass
If your style of content creation is photography, Glass is perfect. This app, launched in 2021, is a space for photographers to share their work with their audiences. As they’ve put it, “With no ads or manipulative algorithms, Glass is your home for photography.” Users pay a subscription fee to access their favourite lens artists. With chronologically placed feed, this gives the feeling Instagram originally did in its earlier stages.
4. Framey
Framey is a unique social travel app launched in 2021, specifically designed for travel enthusiasts and content creators. Content creators can share their travel content and tips to help followers plan their trips. This app is great for creators because there are built-in monetisation tools, and the platform is ad-free, giving users reason to try out the app.
5. Gather
This app came out in 2023 and is perfect for professionals who want to make money through hosting webinars. Money can be made through direct ticket sales to the webinars. This app lets teams bring the dynamics of an in-person office to a virtual environment, with features like proximity-based audio that lets you only hear people who are close to you on the screen, mimicking real-life interactions.
It also works with tools like Slack and Google, making it a good centralised platform. Users can share multiple screens simultaneously, use virtual backgrounds, and interact on shared whiteboards, for a. better remote work experience.