13 New Social Networks for 2020

Social networks can help merchants reach prospects, establish professional contacts, and research markets. They can also be a good way to share experiences and meet people.

Here is a list of new and emerging social networks for 2020. Some of the networks target specific user groups; others offer new ways to interact. These are networks for professional and social communication. Several of the networks are in beta or will launch in 2020.

Upstream

Upstream is a mobile-first social network for professionals — a more social alternative to LinkedIn. The platform is from the team at the recently-sold SocialRank, an audience segmentation application. Upstream seeks to build a professional network around giving and getting help.

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WT Social

Launched by Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales, WT Social (or WikiTribune Social) is a new social network that’s an alternative to commercial platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. WT Social seeks to empower members to select their own content choices, fostering an environment of integrity in content and community. WT Social runs off of donations and is ad-free.

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Valence

Valence connects, showcases, and empowers the global black professional community. It works to establish meaningful connections with companies and capital that create career opportunities and spawn new ventures. It helps to demystify professional advancement pathways through inspirational storytelling and structured community-driven mentorship.

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Peanut

Peanut, a social network for mothers, has been around for a couple of years. The app originally focused on helping moms find friends, but the app’s community support features have expanded over the last year with Q&A forums, Peanut Pages, and Peanut Groups. Recently, Peanut closed on $5 million in new funding, an expansion to reach women who are trying to conceive.

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Revolution Populi

Revolution Populi, a blockchain-powered social network, is scheduled to launch in 2020. Founded by Mirror Worlds inventor and Yale professor David Gelernter and Goldman Sachs veteran Rob Rosenthal, Revolution Populi seeks to establish a publicly governed, decentralized network that removes political bias and empowers people to control their personal data.

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Flip

Flip is a social commerce network built around a fashion-in-a-box service. Vote on other people’s clothes in the Flip app and request similar items to be sent to your home. Receive clothing and post pics of your looks to the app. Get real-time feedback from your friends and the Flip community. Keep what you like; send back what you don’t.

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Shoelace

Shoelace is a mobile app that helps connect people with shared interests through in-person activities. It’s for people who’ve recently moved or who are looking to meet others who live nearby. Shoelace was built by a small team in Area 120, Google’s workshop for experimental products. Shoelace is currently just for New York City, but you can sign up to test if Shoelace expands to your area.

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Pod

Pod

Pod is a social network for connecting professionally on a local level. Put your business on the map by creating a Pod, then let people know what you can offer. Use the map and filter to find the people you need. The network has over 250,000 real estate agents alone. Ping people and introduce yourself to expand your network. Learn new skills by searching for local Pods and clicking Join to attend.

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Voice

Voice is a transparent, rewards-based social network for content creation, distribution, and discovery. Voice is built around the Voice Token, a utility token that can be earned and consumed to acquire the attention of other users on the network. Voice Tokens live on a blockchain ledger, enabling unprecedented levels of transparency throughout the platform, particularly with promotion and advertising. The public beta for Voice debuts on February 14, 2020.

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PopBase

PopBase is a platform that lets creators generate a virtual version of themselves to engage with fans through user-generated interactive content. Users explore PopCity (with content updates dropped in by creators, prizes in special competition events, trivia games created and hosted by creators), watch exclusive videos, and more.

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Elpha

Elpha is a network where women in tech talk candidly online. Members come for personal and professional support, to find jobs, and make friends.

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Yubo

Yubo seeks to reinvent online friendships by providing a trustable and safe platform for everyone. Members create profiles with real names and photos, then add new friends and chat one-on-one or in groups. Users can live-stream video, and anyone can make comments, not just with friends.

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Google Maps’ Local Guides

Local Guides

Google hasn’t had the best record with social networking. (Shutting down Google+ is the most recent example.) However, Google’s recent addition of Local Guides on Google Maps may finally bring social to the search giant. With Local Guides, users can share reviews, photos, and knowledge about surrounding places. People can also unlock badges, earn rewards, and find meetups with the Local Guides Connect forum. Every month, more than 1 billion people use Google Maps, so Local Guides could quickly become a very large network.

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