It has been interesting and not the least bit surprising that social media apps have become far more similar than different.
It makes perfect sense since companies see what young people use on other apps and incorporate such features into their own apps.
For example, we think of Snapchat and its hallmark disappearing messages, but did you know that TikTok and Instagram have incorporated this feature as an option into their apps?
Did you know that in-app shopping is central not just to Instagram but also to TikTok and YouTube?
We have created a table that compares the 4 most common social media platforms and the specific ways they are similar and different (spoiler alert, they are way more similar than different).
Be sure to scroll down beyond the graph to read the definitions of the terms at the bottom of the graph, like the “Option to hide Like Counts” or “Impersonation” and “Fake profiles.”
So contact any youth in your life and discuss this graph with them. This is yet another unique way to address the seminal topic of social media and highlight ways that companies do all they can to get our attention.
1. Messaging capabilities: All platforms offer direct messaging features, enabling private communication between users.
2. Hyper-short videos: All platforms now support short-form video content, a format initially from TikTok.
3. Disappearing messages: Features like disappearing messages on Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok's direct messages make it difficult for parents to monitor communication. Yes, TikTok and Instagram have a feature to turn on to make messages disappear.
4. Impersonation and fake profiles: Teens can be targeted by individuals using fake profiles, leading to potential risks such as catfishing, scams, or privacy violations.
5. Option to hide like counts: Instagram and YouTube allow users to hide like counts on their content. The user hiding their like counts can still see the number of likes, but viewers cannot.
6. In-App Shopping: TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube support in-app shopping features, enabling users to purchase products directly from the platform. Teens can spend money on virtual goods without realizing the financial impact.
7. Ability to like content: Liking content is a standard feature across all platforms.
8. Ability to comment on content: Users can comment on videos and posts across all platforms
9. Story feature: Temporary posts that disappear after a set period are available on TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat.
10. Anonymous interactions: Anonymous features (like TikTok's Q&A or Snapchat's anonymous messages) can lead to negative interactions without accountability.
11. Public sharing of location: Snap Map allows users to share their real-time location publicly with friends by pinning their Bitmoji on a map. While this feature can be useful for meeting up with friends, it also means that anyone with access to the map can see where the user is located at any given moment.
12. Restricted Mode Limitations: Restricted Mode is a feature designed to limit exposure to content that may not be suitable for everyone, such as content with mature or complex themes. While it can help protect teens from inappropriate material, it also has limitations and can restrict access to certain features. Some content may be filtered out on TikTok to avoid exposure to mature themes. However, certain features like the Following feed and gifting on LIVE are unavailable. On YouTube, it helps filter out potentially mature content. However, it can also limit access to some videos and features, making it harder for teens to engage with a broad range of content.
13. High sexual referencing content: Each platform has content that can be sexual or suggestive, although this varies by user and content creator.
14. Exposure to harmful beauty trends: Teens are often exposed to beauty trends that promote unrealistic or harmful standards.
15. Algorithm-driven content recommendation: Algorithms personalize content feeds to keep users engaged.
16. Privacy issues (data collection): Each platform collects user data, reducing user privacy and data security.
17. Limited parental control features: Platforms have limited options for parents to monitor or control their teen's activities, making it harder to ensure safe usage.
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It has been interesting and not the least bit surprising that social media apps have become far more similar than different.
It makes perfect sense since companies see what young people use on other apps and incorporate such features into their own apps.
For example, we think of Snapchat and its hallmark disappearing messages, but did you know that TikTok and Instagram have incorporated this feature as an option into their apps?
Did you know that in-app shopping is central not just to Instagram but also to TikTok and YouTube?
We have created a table that compares the 4 most common social media platforms and the specific ways they are similar and different (spoiler alert, they are way more similar than different).
Be sure to scroll down beyond the graph to read the definitions of the terms at the bottom of the graph, like the “Option to hide Like Counts” or “Impersonation” and “Fake profiles.”
So contact any youth in your life and discuss this graph with them. This is yet another unique way to address the seminal topic of social media and highlight ways that companies do all they can to get our attention.
Many young people are overwhelmed by constant social media use, which can displace important activities like sleep, schoolwork, and friendships. Over 200 school districts are suing platforms like Meta for harms related to social media addiction. The blog covers what problematic social media use is from a clinical perspective and how our kids can talk with a friend (or family member) if they are worried their friend might have some level of problematic use.
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A week ago, Instagram announced changes to its rules for “Teen Accounts.” All new teen users will be defaulted into these accounts, and current teen users will transition over the next two months. Instagram’s head of Products, discussed these changes, and one comment surprised me. She mentioned that teens aged 13 to 16 will need parental permission to have a public account, hoping this would encourage dialogue between teens and parents about social media use. However, I feel this still puts too much responsibility on parents when we need broader societal solutions. I discuss this and the rest of the changes in today's blog.
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We released a new Screenager’s Podcast episode which is my candid interview with 3 teenage girls about Instagram. And it is, in my unbiased opinion, an awesome interview :). In today's blog, I highlight some key points we discussed and encourage you to listen to the podcast with the youth in your life and use the discussion questions at the end of this blog.
READ MORE >for more like this, DR. DELANEY RUSTON'S NEW BOOK, PARENTING IN THE SCREEN AGE, IS THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE FOR TODAY’S PARENTS. WITH INSIGHTS ON SCREEN TIME FROM RESEARCHERS, INPUT FROM KIDS & TEENS, THIS BOOK IS PACKED WITH SOLUTIONS FOR HOW TO START AND SUSTAIN PRODUCTIVE FAMILY TALKS ABOUT TECHNOLOGY AND IT’S IMPACT ON OUR MENTAL WELLBEING.
