Every week there seems to be a new social app trending, and some of them are worthy of the hype. Most, however, are not. For every Snapchat, there are 1,000 Wackchats (if that's a real app, I apologize).
The three social apps below have become very popular with social media enthusiasts, and for good reason. If you haven't taken the plunge and downloaded them yet, you should definitely consider making space on your homescreen for a few new additions.
1. Reddit (iOS and Android)
Reddit has finally released an official app for Android and iOS, something I never thought I'd see. As any Redditor like myself has experienced, in the past the only way to have a somewhat good experience with the platform on mobile was to download, compare, and delete a ridiculous amount of third-party apps. Having used both Android and iOS devices over the years, I've experienced this on multiple occasions.
Now, the official Reddit App has arrived. It's getting mixed reviews from long time third party users, but overall it's proving to offer a pretty good experience. I found it challenging at first, but have assimilated quite quickly given that I've been a daily Alien Blue user for the past two years. The app was released less than a month ago, and while there are bugs, I'm confident that the Reddit team will get on top of the necessary changes. My favorite things about the app are the general user interface, and the quick speed/responsiveness.
2. Anchor (iOS Only)
If you're not on Anchor yet, it's time to sign up and check it out. The app allows users to record and publish audio clips up to two minutes long, almost like bite-sized podcasts. What's cool about Anchor is that (like all great forms of social media) it's turning conventional media on its head, creating a two-way conversation where there wasn't one before. There are tons of great storytellers participating in the Anchor community, and it's a great way to spice up your Twitter or Facebook feed, giving you the option to add audio posts right to your other networks. If you're having a bad hair day and don't want to add a Vine or shoot a quick Snap, try making a Wave on Anchor.
3. Ghostcodes (iOS Only)
Snapchat is proving to be a dominant force in the mobile space, but one thing lacking in the platform is its discovery options. Finding new users to follow, or looking up celebrities/athletes/entrepreneurs is very challenging within Snapchat, and that's where Ghostcodes shines. It offers users the ability to upload a Snapcode, pick a category and add some interests, giving the community a deeper look into who you are. It's great for finding new people in your industry to connect with, and showing support for Snapchatters you love. I've seen a few bugs so far but for the most part, it's worked as advertised. Get out there and start growing your following.