You just can't escape it. At some point, almost every teenager inevitably presses "download" on the app store to install Instagram or Snapchat. But despite the concerns we've heard again and again about the risks of spending too much time online, these apps can often provide teenagers with valuable opportunities for connection and community.

If you're looking to download a new social media app whether it's to reach out to your friends or express your creativity, here's a list of the top six social media platforms in 2025, and how teens are using them every day:

TikTok

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There may be much more to social media than just TikTok, but the app is certainly a giant in the space with over 1.5 billion monthly active users. The app focuses on short form video content with most videos under 60 seconds.

Many teenagers enjoy the creative possibilities that the app provides, as they can make videos with their favorite songs as audios, use fun filters, and even post photo slideshows. Lots of my friends have created "spam accounts" where they freely and frequently post, and this is encouraged by the ease of posting video content to TikTok, as a camera and an editor are both built into the app.

I also enjoy sharing funny or relatable content with my friends on the app as videos can easily be shared between users. Despite facing threats of being banned in 2025 due to security concerns, I think that TikTok will likely stay around and continue to lead the way for video content on social media. While many other platforms have tried to compete with TikTok, from Instagram's Reels to Youtube's Shorts, TikTok still remains king - just ask its 1.5 billion users.

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Instagram

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Facebook may have the most monthly active users of any social media, but it is Meta's other app, Instagram, that sees the most use from Gen Z. The app mainly focuses on photos, with two primary options for posting them: stories, which disappear after 24 hours and are often paired with a song of choice, and posts, which stay on a user's profile forever (unless they're deleted or archived) and often feature a slideshow of ten or more photos. Instagram also introduced a "Reels" tab in attempts to rival TikTok, where users can post video content.

I find that for both myself and other teens, the wide variety of ways you can post on Instagram is a huge appeal. If you want to post something but aren't sure you want it on your profile forever, stories are a go-to. And if you decide later on that you want to keep that story on your profile, you can always add it to your "Highlights."

Another draw to Instagram would be the ability to create multiple accounts. While this is a possibility for most social media apps, a majority of the teenagers I know only have second accounts on Instagram. I've seen my friends make 2025 accounts where they post daily for a whole calendar year, and many runners I know trying to get recruited even created separate accounts to post about their races and PRs.

As Instagram continues to grow, it enjoys many different uses as some hit "post" to entertain themselves and their friends while others do so to network or shoot for a D1 offer. With such a wide variety of ways to post on Instagram and reasons people choose to do so, the app stands out in that teens can be part of the posting, whereas with apps like Pinterest and YouTube you're likely only consuming content rather than producing it. And I think that ability for anyone to participate in Instagram is a huge appeal for many.

Reddit

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Following a similar formula to the aforementioned TikTok and Instagram, Reddit allows users to post photos and videos with text captions that can be commented on or shared with other users. What sets Reddit apart from other social media apps is its unique feature of "subreddits," smaller communities within the app tailored to specific hobbies or interests.

The vast number of "subreddits" available to the app's 500 million users gives teenagers the perfect opportunity to find an online community based around their interest, however niche or widespread it may be. While Instagram and Snapchat tend to focus more on what your friends are doing, Reddit's feed is mostly based on what you're interested in, and many teenagers using Reddit have few IRL friends added.

While Reddit is less popular among Gen Z than giants like Instagram and TikTok, users from 13 to 24 are the app's fastest growing demographic. But despite Reddit's recent growth in users, I don't see the app ever becoming a cultural mainstay for Gen Z as it's more about the individual user's interests than anything. Many teens encourage their friends to download Instagram or TikTok to like their post or video, but Reddit doesn't benefit from this sort of peer pressure to join in on the fun.

Snapchat

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While users on other social media apps post photos to a wide audience of "followers," Snapchat sets itself apart as users send individual photos, or "snaps," to their friends. The purpose of Snapchat is found in its name, with the "snaps" being photos or videos sent between users while the "chats" are simple text messages.

For teenagers, Snapchat is the perfect way to stay in touch with friends with features like "streaks," which count the number of days two friends have both "snapped," or a sent a photo to, one another. The ability to easily send texts, photos, and videos on the app allows for friends to stay connected, and with both snaps and chats disappearing after 24 hours, the app has a much more casual vibe to it. Teens can also use Snapchat to look back at memories with their friends, as snaps can be "saved" in chat so good memories and funny photos can permanently be kept on a user's device.

Personally, I know many teens who stay on the app simply because they feel obligated to keep up their streaks or because it is their primary method for messaging. Since features like Streaks encourage users to stay active on Snapchat, I think the app will only continue to grow in the future.

I often find myself using Snapchat the most out of any social media as it's perfect for keeping in touch with friends whether that's done with sending them funny videos or simply keeping up the streak. After all, you just can't press delete when you have a 192 day streak with your bestie at the line.

Discord

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Similarly to Reddit, Discord allows users to find online communities which share their interests. The app's 200 million users can connect with one another on "Discord servers," message boards built around a specific community like fans of a particular video game or YouTube channel.

Discord has found huge success in the gaming community, as "voice channels" can be used for gamers to play and chat together. Thus, many teens make online friends on Discord with whom they can play their favorite games. Since anyone can freely make a server of their own, many teenagers use the app to game with their friends. And thanks to the app's multi-platform nature, friends can call one another whether they're on a desktop or mobile device.

For me, I always thought Discord was for more niche uses, something mainly used by gamers, so I was shocked to hear that when my sister exchanged contact information with students at her college orientation, many of her fellow students didn't ask for an Instagram or Snapchat. Well, then what did they ask for? You guessed it, a Discord. So, maybe the app isn't just for gamers after all.

Pinterest

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We often get so caught up in numbers on social media. Followers and like counts on Instagram and TikTok can promote dangerous self-comparison, and even more alternative apps like Reddit have upvotes to measure the success of your post or comment. Pinterest is a bit different, with using the app being a more relaxing experience for teenagers who can feel free from the pressure of achieving a certain number of likes or follows.

The photo sharing app's homepage features aesthetic images from vinyl records and outfits to flowers and sunsets, and users can save photos to create their own digital scrapbook of sorts. Teens using the app can look at images tailored to their interests and create "boards" to organize the photos they saved by their theme or purpose.

Many teens enjoy using the app to curate their "aesthetics," and teens often take inspiration from photos they find on Pinterest, whether that's expressed in trying out a new style they found on the app or trying to recreate a stylish photo they saved to their board.

I think Pinterest also has a great future for itself as the app holds a uniquely valuable position in the social media game as a way to escape the hustle and bustle of like counts and follows.

The TL;DR

Social media clearly isn't going anywhere, and these apps will continue to grow with huge support coming from teenage users. While each app has its own draw from entertainment to community, I'd personally say Instagram will remain the biggest and best social media app for Gen Z, due to its huge user base and wide variety of posting options. From stories and posts to reels, the app has something for everyone.

Plus, as a teenager the app's universal appeal practically guarantees all your friends will have an Instagram too. And you just can't say that about Reddit or Pinterest.