The social media world has evolved greatly in the past decade. Social media apps are no longer just for watching viral reels, memes, and texting your friends. Today, it has become one of the most powerful tools for content creation, branding, and online communication.
The features of these social media apps, such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and X, have become more modern. Whether it’s livestreaming on Instagram Live, voice rooms on X, personalised feeds on Instagram, or the marketplace on Facebook, they have become more personalized and entertaining for their users.
It’s no surprise that users expect more than just to chat on these platforms. They want a more user-intuitive and personalized experience from the first time they download these social media apps.
In this blog, we will cover what makes these social media apps so “relevant” in today’s time. If you are a startup founder or an investor seeking to invest in a social media app, this is your guide to creating your next viral social media app. Let’s dive in!
Social Media App Features That Keep Users Coming Back
It goes without saying that your social media app must have its core features for all panels, such as user, admin, and service providers. But once you have covered the base layer of the cake, you have to add the icing and the cherry on top with the advanced features.
1. Personalized Content
Consumers love watching content that they think is uniquely created. The app can follow what users watch, like, or interact with and then display posts or suggestions that satisfy them. For instance, your “For You” page on TikTok suggests videos based on those watched or liked by you.
You get a chance to customize product recommendations, suggested friends, or even notifications. This will give the users the impression that they are being understood by the app. The closer a social media app can get to its users’ personalities and preferences, the more chances that they will continue to use it daily.
2. Live Video and Audio Rooms
Live video and voice capabilities create the impression of a real-time and exciting app. Using this feature, the app users can engage in live streams, audio rooms, or attend events in real-time. A very good example of this would be Instagram Live for videos or Clubhouse for live audio discussions.
You can also include how the creators can make money. Examples include allowing users to purchase access to some private live sessions or tip their favorite hosts. Such features create a community and make the user desire more frequent interactions.
3. Ways to Earn Inside the App
Creators are always hustling when they have the chance to be rewarded. The features of your app can be tipping, paid, subscriptions, or a marketplace to sell digital products such as stickers or virtual items.
It is also possible to split ad revenue with the social media creators and influencers. With reliable social media app development services, you can also introduce special creator-only tools to help them grow. Social media apps such as Twitch have a similar system to make sure that their creators are motivated. This makes the app remain laden with new content.
4. Safety and Moderation
A safe app keeps users happy. There are tools that can automatically identify inappropriate content, spamming, or fake accounts. Add this to the actual individuals going through reports to build trust.
The introduction of the other features, such as quick reporting buttons or the status of the trusted members within the community, allows the user to contribute to ensuring the platform is safe. It makes the app more inviting and makes people spend longer hours in it.
5. Fun Rewards and Challenges
The social media app should be gamified so that one may want to be there more often. You can have streaks as daily activity, leader boards as top users, and badges as achievements. Keep in mind Snapchat streaks or Reddit karma points.
Small rewards are enjoyed by the users to depict progress. Competitions or any challenges also provide them with a motivation to use it more frequently, establishing a routine of using the app on a daily basis.
6. Supports All Types of Content
The thing is that your app should allow people to express themselves in a variety of ways. Users are allowed to share short videos, long articles, polls, GIFs, audio clips, or even a carousel of pictures.
You are also able to allow users to mix formats within a single post, such as a video and a poll. The possibility to share photos in various formats makes the feeds look new, stimulates interaction, and makes the app more entertaining.
7. AR Effects and Filters
The social media app becomes more lively and creative due to the AR options available. Face filters, clothes/makeup/virtual try-on, or interactive lenses can be tried by the users. On sites such as Snapchat and Instagram, the features can be seen to make them more engaging.
Brands can also use AR features. For example, a clothing brand may allow users to virtually put on shoes or hats. This builds fun and interactive experiences and creates possibilities for partnerships or sponsorships.
Want to Launch a Next-Gen Social Media App?
When you are building a social media app, don’t see features of your social media app as a checklist that you must complete. It is not one or the other feature that can make or break your app. For example, if you add too many features, then your social media app may look too cluttered. On the flip side, if you have fewer features, then your social media app may look like a copycat version of other existing social media apps already available in the market. It’s the right combination of value, unique features, and user-intuitiveness of your app that can make your social media app a success.