Social media feels like it’s getting more and more curated (when it should be the other way around), and scrolling through TikTok means you’ll instantly end up accidentally watching an entire rom-com on your For You page. It often feels like a trap, haunted by time and images. However, here are some low-key forms of social media to stay connected with friends and hobbies in a less regulated environment.
1. Share your music tastes on Spotify
Starting with the ability to follow other users, Spotify revolutionized the social features of music streaming, making the app a personalized and intimate way to interact with others online through music. Create a collaborative playlist for a weekend get-together, or join your best friend in creating a Blend, an algorithm-generated playlist that tests the compatibility of your musical tastes and puts together a playlist that the two of you can enjoy. You can. You can also add your favorite playlists to your profile so others can listen to them. But choose wisely. Not all playlists are intended to be public.
2. Log your reading on Goodreads
If curling up in a blanket with a cup of coffee and a good book is your favorite weekend activity, take advantage of Goodreads’ social features. In addition to tracking your current reading volume and working toward your annual goals, you can connect with your friends on the platform and see what they’re reading. You can also find your next book recommendation, share a lively review, and join an online book club to read with others on the platform.
3. Stay active on Strava
If you’re one of the many people who’ve recently jumped on the bandwagon, the next app you should download is Strava. Post a map of your morning run, along with an optional caption and photo, and watch the compliments roll in in the form of Strava likes. If you’re running with a friend, the app will sync your activity. If you’re looking for popular routes in a new area, Strava has heatmaps that show you where people are most likely to go. It doesn’t matter if you’re not a runner. Strava supports everything from walking to golf to stand-up paddleboarding. Whether it’s a 100-mile bike trip or a one-mile walk, earning and giving praise is the ultimate way to share your accomplishments and connect with friends.
4. Curate your perfect wardrobe with Depop
A fashionable combination of Instagram and eBay, Depop lets users follow sellers, save items they love, and create their perfect closet. From vintage finds to celebrity clothing, Depop has unique clothing for everyone, even if it’s just a favorite. By removing the middleman between buyers and sellers, Depop transactions foster a close-knit community of searchers who buy and sell unique clothing at (usually) good prices.
5. Keep track of your friends’ finances with Venmo
Although it’s usually considered a simple mobile payment service, Venmo’s friends feature and the ability to pair each payment with a funny tagline make the app a unique form of social media. Stay up to date on what your friends ate and drank and who paid for their gas on their road trip. Send money to a friend for a birthday coffee or request Uber home service for Friday night.
6. Share your latest hikes on AllTrails
Perfect for fall foliage season, AllTrails helps you find the perfect hiking routes around your area. Rate trails, write reviews, and see what previous hikers have shared to prepare for your next outing. Similar to Strava, you can follow your friends on the app to share your outdoor adventures or the next hike you want to do together.
7. Opal helps you stay off your phone (but stay away from your friends).
Opal allows you to block distracting apps at certain times of the day with stronger restrictions than Apple’s built-in screen time reminders, encouraging you to spend more time without your phone, preferably with friends. Masu. Opal lets you compare your screen time with your friends on leaderboards. This acts as a measure of responsibility and allows you to connect with friends through shared goals.
—Staff writer Hannah M. Wilkoff can be reached at: hannah.wilkoff@thecrimson.com
