Twitter has gone through some serious changes in the past year. As a result, some users are moving away from the platform and looking for alternatives.
The platform changed hands on October 27, 2022, and was rebranded to “X” in July of 2023. Along with the ownership change came significant changes in the user experience.
The biggest and arguably most frustrating change was that previously verified users now need to pay for their blue checkmarks. In addition to that, other glitches, hiccups, and policy decisions on the platform have been increasingly unnerving to users.
What users once enjoyed as a safe space to discuss trending topics and breaking news quickly became a platform with a major misinformation problem. That got worse when Twitter began suspending journalists and media outlets whose position or opinions did not align with their new owner Elon Musk.
As a result, many Twitter users have chosen to leave the platform in search of other social media networks. If that sounds familiar to you, you’re in the right place.
In this post, we’re discussing five alternatives to Twitter where you can engage in relevant and timely conversations with peers and members of your audience. Let’s jump right in.
1. Threads
Threads by Instagram is the most notable Twitter competitor online. It’s a platform geared toward microblogging, and its layout is similar to Twitter’s.
Launched by Instagram as a direct response to Twitter’s transition to X, Threads garnered over 100 million sign-ups within five days of launching in July 2023.
Like Twitter, Threads allows users to post text posts (a 500-character limit on Threads) with embedded videos, images, and GIFs.
Threads features a “For You” feed similar to Twitter’s. It also has a “Following” feed, so you can filter out the app’s recommendations and just look for threads from users you follow.
The downside to Threads is that its usage dropped by 80 percent within three months of launching. However, with the noise dialed-down, it’s definitely possible to build an alternative community among Threads users who have exited Twitter.
Threads uses your Instagram account to pull your username and avatar. It features a sharing tool that creates visual Threads posts for your Instagram feed too, so that you can cross-post your content where appropriate.
2. Reddit
If you’re looking to move away from Twitter and toward a platform with in-depth, timely conversations, then Reddit just might be the right place for you.
Reddit is ranked #3 in Semrush’s Top 100 Most Visited Websites in the US for 2023. With 52 million active daily users and over 1.5 billion total users, Reddit is a busy place, which is great news for connecting with other like-minded people.
Rather than a typical social network, Reddit is more like a forum-style community. It’s centered specifically around timely conversations, sorted into topics. Each topic is called a subreddit.
Depending on the topics you want to discuss, you’ll want to locate that specific subreddit and jump in. It’s easy to go down a rabbit hole, though – there are 3,125,000 subreddits to choose from.
Reddit users need a great profile picture to set them apart. If you need an avatar for your Reddit profile, we’ve created a handy guide for creating profile pictures to get you started.
3. Discord
If you aren’t attached to the idea of using public social media platforms, Discord is a great place to build your online community and join other like-minded users inside private servers.
Rather than text-only interactions, Discord allows users to interact via chat, voice, and even video within its private servers. It’s best for immediate, real-time group and one-on-one instant messaging and VoIP.
Popular among gamers and fandom groups, Discord has 196.2 million active monthly users. It’s available on the web, or as a desktop or mobile app.
One of Twitter’s most popular features has been its real-time activity. If you’ve built your own active Discord server or are participating in others, you’ll be able to jump right into the middle of real-time discussions as they unfold.
If you plan to set up your own Discord server, you’ll need the perfect Discord server banner and avatar. With Snappa, it’s super easy to set up great-looking graphics for Discord.
We’ve created tutorials to help you create your Discord server banner and Discord avatar.
4. Mastodon
Mastodon is a decentralized social media platform made up of multiple servers. Your Mastodon feed functions in a similar way to Twitter or Threads.
Users on Mastodon can create their own servers, which requires a bit of a tech learning curve.
Unlike most other social platforms, Mastodon doesn’t use an algorithm. In that way, you can curate what you want to see.
It’s important to note that Mastodon doesn’t support advertising. If you’re a brand hoping to run ads and reach more users through traditional marketing tactics, this might not be the space for you.
Instead, Mastodon is best for brands, marketers, and individual users who want to build authentic relationships through engagement. Relationship-building might not yield quick results, but it will help you build trust and brand awareness with your audience over time.
5. LinkedIn
Finally, LinkedIn is a potential alternative to Twitter – particularly for professional users who want to stay on top of current events in their industry. (Contrary to popular belief, it’s not just for finding a new job!)
LinkedIn provides powerful tools for connectivity and reach, and its timeline can get you a lot of traction when you post consistently. It’s a great space to talk about timely issues that are relevant to the professional world, whether you’re a job seeker, business leader, or business owner.
With 310 million active monthly users and a total user base of 875 million, LinkedIn is projected to grow beyond 1 billion users by 2025. As the top platform for marketers in the B2B space, this means LinkedIn offers an excellent opportunity to connect with a wider audience.
Brands that use LinkedIn to advertise their services and products report a 33% increase in purchase intent from users. Conversion rates are twice as high on LinkedIn as on many other platforms, too.
Final Thoughts
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If you’re exiting Twitter, which platform is best for your needs? Will you try more than one? Leave a comment below and let us know what you think.
