6 Questions You Should Ask Before Joining Any Social Network

With new social media platforms being introduced every now and then, it can be incredibly tempting to sign up for each one. However, this is not always the best idea and there are a few questions you should consider before creating an account.

1 How does the website handle privacy and your data?

Some platforms have questionable privacy policies. For example, WhatsApp may share information about your account, including your phone number, application usage, IP address, and other information, with Meta and other third-party service providers with whom it works to improve its services. At the same time, several platforms are more secure than others, such as Signal.

While there are plenty of social media mistakes you should avoid to protect your privacy, all your efforts will be in vain if the platform itself doesn’t prioritize your privacy and your data.

Newer platforms in particular bring additional security issues. Registering during the platform’s growth phase may mean a greater risk of hacking or exposure of personal data in the event of a breach. One red flag that tells you to steer clear of a social media platform is if the site doesn’t post its terms or privacy policy at all.

So if you’re not willing to compromise on privacy, take the time to read the platform’s data collection practices, privacy policies, and available privacy settings. While nothing can fully guarantee data security when a site is in its growth phase, knowing a platform’s stance on privacy will help you make informed decisions.

Meanwhile, some newer platforms like Threads are owned by well-known companies like Meta, which owns Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp. In such cases, it is a great idea to check their record using user data in existing applications before registering.

2 Does the app content match your interests?

Today, social media platforms focus on one primary type of content. For example, TikTok features primarily short videos, while YouTube leans heavily toward longer videos.

Similarly, X (formerly Twitter) and Threads focus on short posts, while Snapchat focuses on quick, temporary content like Snaps. While Instagram and Facebook jumped on the short content trend with the introduction of Reels, their primary focus remains on sharing photos and videos.

So before you sign up for a new social media platform, check out its content focus. For example, if you’re one of those people who avoids short videos on social media, it wouldn’t make much sense to sign up for a platform built on similar content, right?

3 Will the app just be a distraction?

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As someone with a terrible attention span, one of the first things I consider when signing up for a new social media platform is whether it will become a distraction. Social media platforms make it incredibly easy to fall into a cycle of procrastination. What starts as a quick ten minute break can quickly turn into three hours of mindless scrolling.

If you’re already struggling to manage your time effectively and want to cut back on your social media usage, ask yourself if adding another social media app would help.

This is also closely related to the type of content that the platform focuses on. Personally, I find short content incredibly distracting – I can easily spend hours watching one TikTok after another. It gets to the point where stopping seems almost impossible.

On the other hand, I can only spend so much time watching people share memories on Facebook before I get bored. So consider the type of content the platform is targeting. If the app offers value beyond just entertainment, such as professional networking or opportunities to learn something new, the distraction could be worth it.

4 Who are you likely to connect with?

While consuming content typically takes up most of your time on social media apps, it’s also important to consider who you’re likely to connect with on the platform. After all, social media offers much more than just scrolling.

Different platforms cater to different audiences. For example, Facebook tends to attract an older demographic, while TikTok and Instagram are filled with Gen Z users. While these platforms may differ in audience and content, all three are primarily focused on entertainment. In contrast, platforms like LinkedIn focus on professional networking.

Before you sign up for a platform, take a moment to think about the type of people you want to connect with – friends and family, influencers and content creators, or professionals? Then research the platform’s user base to see if it matches the audience you’re looking for.

If you’re considering signing up for a new platform, keep in mind that it may not have a large audience yet. This can affect your ability to connect with the type of people you want to engage with.

5 What features does the app offer?

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One thing is for sure – social media platforms are always competing with each other. Instagram and Facebook launched Stories and Reels to compete with TikTok and Snapchat, TikTok introduced Notes to rival Instagram, and there are countless other examples if you look closely.

If established platforms are constantly drawing from each other, it’s no surprise that newer apps are also trying to replicate popular features. But many platforms that are still in the growth phase may lack features you can rely on.

So I recommend checking the reviews and description of the app in the App Store or Play Store to see if it offers the features you really want. If not, it might not be worth going through the trouble of creating another account only to stop using it after a few days.

Similarly, before committing to a new social media platform, check how often the app rolls out updates. Newer platforms tend to come with many technical issues and bugs that include slow loading, crashes, or features that don’t work as intended. Frequent updates indicate that the developers are committed to improving the user experience by introducing new features and solving user-reported bugs.

6 Is the platform future proof?

While this shouldn’t be a problem if you sign up for a social network that’s been around for years, the longevity of newer platforms is often unpredictable. It is almost impossible to know if the application will actually take off.

You might think that an app owned by a large company is guaranteed success. But take the example of Whee, which was developed by TikTok’s parent company. Whee launched in June 2024 as a photo-sharing app similar to Instagram, but never gained traction.

Similarly, TikTok’s parent company also launched Lemon8, a photo and video sharing platform, back in 2020. Although Lemon8 has over a hundred thousand ratings on the App Store, it still hasn’t gained as much popularity as other major platforms.

So if you’re hesitant to invest time and effort into building a following on a platform that may not last, it might be wise to go with a more established option or wait to see if the app gains momentum first.

Before you sign up for a new social media platform, be sure to consider all of the points above, especially the type of content you’ll find on the app, the features it offers, and the user base.