Facebook is undoubtedly one of the most popular social media networks today. It makes it possible for individuals and organizations to connect and share ideas or market their businesses.
However, the platform can become quite disheartening owing to its restrictive policies that sometimes curtail the freedom of speech. The site also collects user data and can become quite annoying thanks to its adverts.
Luckily, there are plenty of Facebook alternatives adults can turn to and have an enjoyable experience. In fact, I have compiled a list of 15 of the most outstanding options for you to choose from.
Take a look.
Best Facebook Alternatives For Adults
1. MeWe
MeWe is one of the best Facebook alternatives for adults you can turn to. It was launched in May 2012 and is owned by a company called Sgrouples.
MeWe has its headquarters in Los Angeles, California. The platform has over 20 million users and the number keeps growing as more people become aware of it.
The social networking site has an interface that looks like that of Facebook. Its news feed shows your own posts and those of your friends and connections in a chronological manner.
You can customize the newsfeed to prioritize what your close friends post over the general public. Another interesting thing about this networking site is that it categorizes pages under fun and business.
That means you can always access pages accordingly and that saves you time. Groups are either private or public so you can choose the ones you wish to join and participate in.
One thing that makes MeWe different from Facebook is that it values privacy over everything. All the information or data you post is encrypted so that only those you authorize can access your information.
The social networking site is also working hard to ensure that no spyware ever makes its way to the platform. Unlike Facebook which runs adverts on different pages, MeWe does not have any annoying ads.
While you can access this site from anywhere as long as you have an internet connection, you can also download its app and use it on the go.
2. Parler
Another social media networking site you might want to check out is Parler. It was launched in September 2018 and was created by a man called John Matze.
This site was created as an alternative to Facebook and Twitter which have stringent moderation policies. It is because of such policies that certain posts are taken down while some users are banned from such platforms.
In contrast to Facebook and Twitter, Parler believes in upholding the value of free speech. That is why a lot of the people banned on Facebook end up signing up and using Parler.
On this social network, individuals are free to share their views on different subjects without the danger of being branded as hate speech promoters. It is worth pointing out that Parler is a French word that means free speech.
It, therefore, follows that the site encourages users to share their ideas and opinions openly and without fear. Of course, the site places some restrictions to ensure that users do not promote or encourage crime or spamming.
Like other social networking sites, Parler has a clean interface with a newsfeed to help you stay updated with the latest. It is available as a website and a mobile app so you can choose a convenient way to use it.
3. WT.Social
Another interesting social media network you can turn to is WT.Social or WikiTribune Social. Many people simply refer to it as WT though.
It was launched in 2019 and is therefore a relatively new platform. However, within the short time of its existence, it has managed to get up to 450,000 users.
Its developers describe it as a non-toxic social network. This is in reference to the bad things that have been associated with mainstream networks such as Twitter and Facebook.
One thing that makes it different from Facebook is that it does not collect or compile user data. That means you can use it to keep in touch with your friends and professional contacts without worrying about some algorithm collecting your data for the purpose of selling it to third-party entities.
The social network does not run pop-up ads so you won’t have to worry about constantly getting bombarded with unnecessary advertisements. The network also monitors user activities to ensure that no one shares misleading or incorrect information.
In case someone violates the policies of the platform, they are immediately kicked out and banned from using the platform. Another thing that makes this platform unique is that posts are collaborative by default.
That means if you create a post someone else can edit it to correct mistakes or misinformation. The sign-up process is quite simple and fast.
4. Minds
Minds is another exceptional social media network you can join instead of Facebook. One of the things it does well is to ensure that user data is protected.
That means you can sign up for free and start using the platform without worrying about your data getting collected and sold to third-party entities.
The social network encourages free speech as a way of ensuring people can share ideas and opinions without feeling judged.
However, the network uses a community-based governance system. That means different people on the platform get to view the posts and content available and then decide if they are good or bad.
Another thing that makes it different from Facebook is the fact that it makes it possible for users to earn. By simply using the platform, users can earn some money or cryptocurrency which they can use to boost their own posts or crowdfund others on the platform.
Minds is an open-source platform making it possible for anyone with some programming knowledge to help improve it.
5. Mastodon
Mastodon is a free and open-source software making it easy for people from all walks of life to develop a networking platform for private use.
The platform incorporates microblogging features that are similar to those available on Twitter. It greatly differs from Facebook because it does not have a single owner who controls whatever happens.
As noted earlier, it is free and open-source meaning anyone can access its source code and use it to create their own instance. As a result, this social media network is decentralized and gives users the freedom to decide how they want to use it.
Another impressive thing about this social media network is that it is available in over 93 languages. That makes it easily accessible to people from different nationalities around the world.
6. Twitter
Next up on this list of the best Facebook alternatives for adults is Twitter. It was founded in 2006 and has its headquarters in San Francisco California.
The social network has over the years grown in popularity thanks to its features and the way it facilitates engagements. Today, it has over 450 million users across the globe.
One of the things that make it stand out from Facebook is that it makes it easy for users to post relatively fast. That is why it is never a surprise when breaking news goes live on Twitter before Facebook.
The social media site has a simple layout making it easy for users to browse through their feeds quickly. It utilizes hashtags to make it possible for people to find trending items quickly.
Signing up for a Twitter account is also quite simple and straightforward which is why many people find it easy to join. You can use Twitter in your web browser or download its mobile app for convenience.
Also Read: Best TweetDeck Alternatives
7. LinkedIn
LinkedIn is another excellent social media network you can join instead of Facebook. It differs from Facebook because it tends to cater to the needs of professionals rather than encouraging everyone to join.
LinkedIn is the best place to go if you want to connect to potential employers and employees. It also opens up possibilities for linking up with business owners or managers.
On this platform, you can share information about your professional qualifications. That may include your academic background and career path.
That makes it easy for other professionals to get to know you and arrange a potential partnership or offer a job.
The site often includes posts from different companies announcing vacant positions that need to be filled by professionals. You can sign up and use LinkedIn free of charge.
8. Instagram
Instagram is the next social media platform you can turn to if you don’t like Facebook. The site was launched in 2010 and has over the years grown to become quite popular around the world.
It is slightly different from Facebook because it places more emphasis on sharing content in the form of videos and photos. Its visual appeal is one of its greatest strengths.
You can sign up for an account on Instagram using your email, Facebook account, or telephone number. The sign-up process is simple and straightforward which is always an added advantage.
You can start uploading and sharing videos and photos on Instagram as soon as you sign up. Additionally, you can react to other people’s posts by liking, sharing, or commenting.
9. Diaspora
Another excellent social media alternative to Facebook is Diaspora. It is made up of independently owned nodes that form the global network.
Independently owned nodes are instances of the same software but those that have been customized by people from around the world. In essence, Diaspora operates as a decentralized social media network.
That is why users on the network never have to worry about it undergoing a corporate takeover or other forms of inconveniences that are often experienced by major networks.
The platform does not carry any annoying pop-up ads which is another thing that distinguishes it from Facebook. It also doesn’t have restrictive policies making it possible for users to share ideas and opinions freely and openly.
Another interesting thing about this network is that it enables you to post to other social networks as long as you connect them to your Diaspora account.
It boasts of a simple interface and utilizes things like hashtags and a chronological newsfeed to ensure users are always up to date with the latest information.
10. Telegram
Another social network you can join is Telegram. It was released in 2013 and has managed to become quite popular with over 700 million active users every month.
On this site, users can start private chats with their friends and professional associates. They can also post videos and photos just like it happens on Facebook.
Users can create their own stickers instead of using those provided by the platform as is the case with Facebook.
A welcome aspect of using Telegram is the fact that it does not collect user data for the purposes of reselling to third-party entities. All data is encrypted and that means you can keep connecting with others without fear of losing data.
In Telegram, you can set a global timer so that it automatically deletes messages after the specified period. It also has an open API and source code so anyone can access and tweak it to get a more personalized experience.
11. Reddit
Reddit is another social site you can turn to when you have had enough of Facebook. The platform is slightly different from Facebook because it allows you to register using a nickname rather than your real name.
On this platform, you can post anything you like including videos, photos, and text articles. Users on the platform will then view your content and either upvote or downvote it.
Content that gets a lot of upvotes is rewarded and stays on top of the forum while those with many downvotes eventually disappear from the forum’s most exposed places. Reddit has a feature called subreddits where you can find topics on just about anything you can imagine.
There is always a subreddit about your favorite show, hobby, or news item so you don’t have to worry about missing out on the fun.
12. Clubhouse
Next up on this list of the best Facebook alternatives for adults is Clubhouse. It encourages users to connect through voice or speech.
Once you sign up for an account on this platform, you are free to enter any chat room with a topic of interest to you. You can then listen to the discussions going on and then jump in to contribute your own opinion or idea.
Alternatively, you can create your own chat room and allow others to join before you start having conversations. It is a good Facebook alternative for anyone who wants to meet new people and have an actual voice conversation in real time.
13. Nextdoor
Instead of looking for new contacts from around the world why not try and connect to the people in your neighborhood? Nextdoor differs from Facebook because it seeks to connect people living in the same locality.
With this social media network, you can easily connect to that neighbor or a stranger across the street and strike up a lifetime of friendship. The site also offers information regarding the best places to shop and to find different services.
When you upload content on this site, only the people in your neighborhood can access it. It is worth noting that all users on the platform are verified and that works as a security feature to keep you safe.
14. Yubo
Yubo was launched in 2015 and has become one of the most popular alternatives to Facebook. That is because it tends to respect user privacy which is why it does not collect data.
Because it does not collect data, it does not bombard users with unnecessary adverts either. The site also places a lot of emphasis on live streaming.
Once you sign up for an account, you can set up a live stream with up to 10 participants. However, you can have as many viewers as possible.
There are usually hundreds of live streams taking place all the time and you can therefore be sure to find something interesting to watch or participate in.
15. Vero
Vero is another excellent alternative to Facebook you can use to connect to friends and new contacts. It is available as a mobile application so you can always access it on the go.
It also comes as an app for Windows and Mac systems. The app has a simple yet visually appealing interface with clearly marked sections for easy navigation.
Like most social media sites, it shows posts from your friends and groups in chronological order. That means you can always scroll up and down to get whatever was posted while you were offline.
This social media platform often attracts a lot of celebrities which is one of the reasons why it is growing in popularity. The platform also differs from Facebook because it does not run ads nor does it utilize any algorithms to collect user data.
Also Read: Best Instagram Video Downloader Apps
Wrapping Up
Alternatives such as MeWe offer an almost similar experience to Facebook but without adverts and restrictive community policies.
While those such as Minds and Parler make it easy for you to enjoy the freedom of expression in a totally different manner from Facebook.
In a nutshell, all the platforms are great alternatives to Facebook for adults.
Tom loves to write on technology, e-commerce & internet marketing.
Tom has been a full-time internet marketer for two decades now, earning millions of dollars while living life on his own terms. Along the way, he’s also coached thousands of other people to success.