š The Social Media Revolution Nobody's Talking About (But You Should Know!)
Hey there, tech enthusiast! š
Remember when we only had Facebook and Twitter? Those days are LONG gone! The social media world in 2025 is absolutely wild, and Iāve been diving deep into whatās actually happening out there.
After spending weeks researching and testing these platforms, Iāve got some eye-opening discoveries to share. Some will shock you, others might change how you think about building your online presence.
Letās dive in! š
š The Numbers That Will Blow Your Mind
First, let me hit you with some stats that made me do a double-take:
The Giants Are Still... Giant šļø
WhatsApp: 3 billion users (basically everyone!)
Facebook: 3.07 billion users (yes, itās still growing)
YouTube: 2.54 billion users (the search engine that pretends to be a video platform)
Instagram: 2 billion users (your shopping addiction starts here)
TikTok: 1.94 billion users (where 58 minutes of your day disappears)
But hereās the kicker š - these numbers donāt tell the whole story. The real action is happening in the smaller, newer platforms that are stealing usersā hearts (and time).
š The New Kids on the Block (And Theyāre Not Playing Around!)
1. Bluesky - The Twitter Killer? š¦āØ
Remember when everyone was complaining about Twitter? Well, 35 million people found their answer in Bluesky. This isnāt just another Twitter clone - itās something entirely different.
What makes it special:
You OWN your data (crazy concept, right?)
No billionaire can wake up and change everything overnight
You can actually choose what shows up in your feed
If you donāt like your server, you can move - and take all your followers with you!
Real talk: After using it for a month, I get why people are obsessed. It feels like Twitter from 2009, but better.
2. BeReal - Where Fake Gets Canceled šø
45 million users are sharing their most mundane moments, and somehow itās addictive AF.
Hereās how it works: Once a day, you get a notification. You have 2 minutes to take a photo with both cameras - front and back. No filters, no editing, no BS.
Why people love it:
Finally, social media that doesnāt make you feel terrible about your life
Your friendsā āaestheticā breakfast? Nope, you see their actual morning chaos
Gen Z is OBSESSED (and theyāre usually right about these things)
3. Noplace - MySpace Had a Gen Z Baby š
This one raised $35 million and has 12 million users who are basically treating it like digital stickers for their personality.
Think customizable profiles, colorful backgrounds, and zero pressure to look perfect. Itās giving major 2005 vibes, and Gen Z is here for it.
4. Ten Ten - Your Voice, No Camera Needed šļø
12 million users are walking around having voice conversations like itās a walkie-talkie. No video calls, no typing - just pure voice.
Plot twist: It raised $65 million because apparently, weāre all tired of being on camera 24/7.
š The Newsletter & Blogging Revolution
Okay, this is where things get REALLY interesting for creators...
Substack vs Ghost vs Beehiiv - The Great Newsletter War āļø
Substack (The OG)
ā Easy to start, built-in audience discovery
ā Takes 10% of your revenue (ouch!)
Best for: First-time newsletter writers
Ghost (The Rebel)
ā 0% fees, complete control over everything
ā Steeper learning curve
Best for: Serious creators who want to own their empire
Beehiiv (The Growth Hacker)
ā Unlimited emails, built-in growth tools
ā Can get expensive
Best for: Creators focused on rapid subscriber growth
My honest take: Start with Substack, graduate to Ghost when youāre making real money.
Developer Blogging - Where the Real Money Is š»
If youāre into tech, these platforms are goldmines:
Hashnode - Free custom domain + developer community = š„
Dev.to - Massive community, great for networking
I know several developers pulling in 5-figures monthly from these platforms. Just saying! š°
š The Decentralized Movement (Itās Not Just Crypto Anymore)
Hereās something mainstream media isnāt talking about enough:
Mastodon has 10 million users spread across thousands of independent servers. Think of it like email - you can have Gmail and still email someone with Yahoo.
Why this matters:
No single company can shut it down
Communities self-moderate
Your data stays where YOU want it
Mastodon search interest is up 138% - people are waking up to this!
šļø Social Commerce is Eating Everything
TikTok Shop just had a 120% sales increase in one year. Let me repeat that - 120%!
People are literally buying stuff while watching dance videos. The line between entertainment and shopping has completely disappeared.
Instagram is now where 61% of people discover their next purchase. Itās not social media anymore - itās a shopping mall with social features.
š September 2025 Trends You Canāt Ignore
1. āVibeā Culture is King š
Forget viral moments. Now itās about creating longer-lasting emotional experiences. Brands are hiring āvibe consultantsā (yes, thatās a real job now).
2. AI Transparency is Cool Again š¤
Creators are openly sharing their AI prompts. āHereās how I made thisā content is exploding.
3. Hashtags Are Dead (On Instagram) ā°ļø
Instagramās CEO confirmed it. Keywords in captions and alt text are the new game.
4. LinkedIn Reach Dropped 90% š
If youāre still posting daily motivational quotes, stop. The algorithm changed everything.
š Curious to know more? Read more about Top 25+ Social Media Platforms 2025: New Age Networks, Blogging & Newsletter Platforms Reshaping Digital Marketing
šÆ So... What Should YOU Do?
After testing all these platforms, hereās my honest advice:
For Beginners:
Pick ONE platform and nail it first
Focus on authentic content over perfect content
Build an email list from day one (seriously!)
For Content Creators:
Diversify across 2-3 platforms MAX
Own your audience with newsletters
Test new platforms early (thatās where the growth is)
For Businesses:
Meet your customers where they already are
Experiment on new platforms with authentic content
Social commerce isnāt optional anymore
š® My Predictions for the Rest of 2025
Bold prediction #1: One of the āBig 3ā (Meta, Google, X) will lose significant market share to decentralized alternatives.
Bold prediction #2: Newsletter platforms will start adding social features (itās already happening with Ghost).
Bold prediction #3: Audio-first platforms will explode as video fatigue sets in.
Bold prediction #4: At least one major platform will implement AI-generated content labels by year-end.
š Your Turn!
Iām curious - which platform are you most excited about? Have you tried any of these new ones?
Hit reply and let me know! I read every single email and often feature interesting responses in future newsletters.
Quick favor: If this newsletter helped you understand the crazy social media landscape better, would you mind sharing it with one friend whoād find it useful? It really helps me reach more people who can benefit from these insights.
š Useful Resources
Want to dive deeper? Here are some tools Iām using:
š Free Tools:
Mastodon server finder: joinmastodon.org
Bluesky invite codes: Check Twitter/X for community shares
BeReal download: App Store/Google Play
š° Paid Tools Worth It:
Ghost Pro: Starting at $9/month
Beehiiv Scale: $39/month
Substack Pro: 10% of revenue
Thatās a wrap for this week! š¬
The social media world is changing faster than ever, but that means more opportunities for those paying attention. Donāt get overwhelmed - pick one or two insights from this newsletter and act on them.
Stay curious, stay authentic, and keep building!
AI & Tech Insights




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