New-age apps to get your head around

Reporters Ani Ngawhika (left) and Laine Priestley pose for a BeReal taken by online editor Sean...
Reporters Ani Ngawhika (left) and Laine Priestley pose for a BeReal taken by online editor Sean Flaherty whose selfie is in the upper left-hand corner. PHOTO: SEAN FLAHERTY
The number of social media apps out there is becoming so numerous it is becoming hard for many people to keep up. Laine Priestley explains what some of these apps are and how to use them. 

BeReal

This is a photo-sharing app where you will get a notification to your phone once a day at any hour. When you get the notification, your camera will open and take two pictures, one through your front camera and one through your back camera in real-time. You can add your friends and they will see your pictures, and once you post, you will also be able to see theirs.

PHOTO: SHANNON THOMSON
PHOTO: SHANNON THOMSON

TikTok

I would be surprised if you had never come across this app, whether you use it yourself or a younger friend or family member does. TikTok is a video-sharing app that allows users to post short videos in a 15-second to 10-minute format. Users can also watch videos and after more interaction with certain genres the app will generate a tailor-made feed.

There are numerous topics and genres. Popular genres include books (referred to as BookTok), Cute pets (PetTok) and many others.

Anyone can post videos, there is an audience for everyone. If you want to post, choose a topic you like and make a video. My personal favourite genre is gardening.

PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES
PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

Discord

Discord is a text, video and voice platform which allows people to hang out with niche communities of like-minded people from around the globe, as well as friends. People can join servers which align with their interests, chat and share content.

Most servers are private, invite-only spaces for friends and communities.

Many universities are also using discord as a platform to share information within a class and paper through their own server. Other servers are large and open communities. There is usually a server for whatever spikes your interest, from anime, niche YouTubers, and even old shows like the Australian soap The Secret Life of Us.

PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES
PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

SoundCloud

SoundCloud is a music-sharing platform where individual artists can upload, stream, promote and share music and podcasts they create. Users can also listen to work from underground artists, aspiring musicians and also find something a little different. One of our very own reporters is an aspiring DJ, if you feel up to it, search up the user anica$hmoney and give her tracks a listen.

PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES
PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

X

Formerly known as Twitter, where users can share their thoughts, pictures, and anything else on their mind (which depending on the person could either be a good or bad thing). Known as a "micro-blogging site," users are limited to 140 characters to get their message across.

Elon Musk. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES
Elon Musk. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES
Since the purchase of Twitter by Elon Musk in 2022, the name was changed to X, and recently a paid version was introduced. Paid subscribers can write posts with up to 25,000 characters.