Keep in touch with people you know
Facebook for groups and events, WhatsApp for everyday contact, and Signal for private encrypted conversations.
See messaging appsYour compass for the social world
Explore social networks.
Find your place.
Explore social networks, understand how they work and build better habits. A world of connections, on your terms.
20 networks to explore 8 guides for better sharing
Connections that matter A world to exploreChoose without the guesswork
Which social network fits your goal?
Start with what you actually want to do. These are useful starting points, not a universal ranking.
Share photos and ideas
Instagram for visual stories, Pinterest for organising inspiration, and Snapchat for spontaneous exchanges.
Explore visual networksCreate or watch video
YouTube for lasting content, TikTok for short formats, and Twitch for live broadcasts and interaction.
Compare video formatsJoin a community
Discord structures ongoing groups, Reddit hosts topic-based discussions, and Facebook supports local groups.
Find a communityBuild a professional network
LinkedIn brings together profiles, organisations, posts and opportunities around professional life.
Explore LinkedInExplore more open networks
Bluesky offers custom feeds; Mastodon connects independently operated servers with their own rules.
Understand open networksAlways check age requirements, privacy options, moderation and data-export tools before creating an account.
The social network directory
A network for every interest.
For creating, learning, connecting or growing your projects.
Photo & inspirationThe home of visual expression.
Video & liveYouTube
Learn, create and see more.
ProfessionalConnections that move you forward.
Video & liveTikTok
Ideas brought to life through video.
CommunitiesDiscord
Where communities spend time together.
Open networksBluesky
Conversation with more choice.
Less noise, more understanding
Connected, with better habits.
Practical advice for a calmer, more useful experience.
Your privacy deserves a few settings
Separate three questions: who can access your account, who can see your content and what data you share.
Read the guideThere is a person behind every profile
Good conversation starts with context, respect and room for disagreement.
Read the guideWhat we believe
Share thoughtfully.
Connect meaningfully.
Networks are tools. How we use them makes the difference. Let’s make our conversations more respectful, more informed and more human.
01
Respect people
A disagreement can remain a conversation.
02
Check before sharing
A source is worth more than a thousand shares.
03
Stay in control of your time
Connect by choice, not just out of habit.
A few helpful answers
Good questions.
Clear answers.
A first step towards understanding social networks.
Our editorial methodWhich social network should I start with?
Start with your purpose: keep in touch, join a community, create or develop your work. Try one or two platforms whose formats and rules suit you. Our directory groups networks by use.
Does a private account protect everything?
No. It limits your audience under the service’s rules, but a recipient can keep or share a copy. Also check tags, location, messages and connected apps.
Are messaging apps social networks?
Uses overlap: groups, communities and channels also enable sharing. We list messaging separately to distinguish private conversations from public posts.
Do platforms pay to appear here?
No. This edition contains no paid placement or affiliate links. The selection is editorial and non-exhaustive; listing order is not a quality ranking.
How can I report an error in a profile?
Send the page address, the relevant passage and, if possible, an official source through our Contact & corrections page. Platform names, features and terms can change.