If we are being totally honest here, no one has just one main app they stick to forever. It’s in with the new, out with the old (especially when it’s time to clear up that phone storage). Some apps are just part of the daily routine now. TikTok for the endless doom scroll. Snapchat to send cute selfies. Instagram for pretending we have our lives together. X to publish your political frustration. Trust me, if you’re not on these yet, your friends probably already are. Which means it’s time to get on the 2025 social media train!
TikTok (The Big Dog)
TikTok is still the main character. It’s where we go to feel all the feels. I’ve stayed up until 3 a.m. sobbing over sad edits, then suddenly felt totally inspired after watching a stranger give the most motivational pep talk. And don’t even get me started on the deep belly laughs, like when a toddler casually drops every curse word imaginable.
You seriously go through every emotion on this app. And honestly, I think that’s why it’s become so popular. People want a space where they don’t feel so alone. They can see that others are dealing with all kinds of emotional ups and downs, too.
Sure, some people still see it as a “pointless app” where teens just dance and lip-sync, but it’s more than that for many of us. It can be an outlet—a way to reach out without saying anything. And sometimes, that’s exactly what someone needs.
Why TikTok?
I’ve always wondered what makes TikTok stand out compared to every other app. Renaming it from the old-school “Musical.ly” gave it a fresh start, but I think it’s more than that.
The real secret? The algorithm. TikTok’s For You Page (FYP) isn’t just a random feed. It’s built around you. Based on what you like, how long you watch certain videos, what you rewatch, the profiles you click, and even how fast you scroll, it creates a weirdly personal feed. It knows what mood you’re in before you even do. That’s what makes it different. It’s not just content, it’s content that feels meant for you. I’ve literally found myself scrolling through and watching a video on something I was wondering about before I even attempted to search it. Yeah, yeah, I know…I’m probably a little dramatic. But it’s true!
Snapchat (Annoying Little Sister)
Will we ever truly delete Snapchat? No, like… for real. I’m 19, and I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if my friends and I are 80 with grandkids, still sending our best-angled selfies to each other. It’s just one of those apps that won’t die off.
Snapchat doesn’t even need to try that hard. They barely update the app, and people still use it religiously. Why? Because it works. It’s casual, low-pressure, and somehow part of our daily routine. Whether we’re saying something or sending a blurry pic with zero context. It’s not flashy. It’s not trying to be anything else. It just exists, and we keep showing up. Honestly, I think Snapchat might outlive us all.
That said, yes, I’m still totally hooked on Snapchat, even after downloading it ten years ago. It’s the one app that actually helps me stay connected with my friends, even when we’re a thousand miles apart. For example, my best friend from college lives that far away now, and thanks to Snapchat, I can still annoy her daily (which honestly is my love language, lol).
It’s not about having long conversations. Sometimes it’s just sending a random selfie, a video of something ridiculous, or a quick “look at this.” But somehow, it keeps us close without needing to say much at all.
Instagram (Unhinged But Asthetic?)
When I say Instagram is the difference between walking into a clean, aesthetic room vs a chaotic teenage boy’s bedroom, I mean it. One second you’re looking at a perfectly curated photo dump from someone’s fancy dinner, and the next you’re watching a Reel featuring a joke you should probably never repeat in public.
But honestly? That’s exactly why I love it. Instagram has become this perfect mix of polished and unhinged. The rise of Reels definitely brought the app back to life. It’s like you can scroll videos and still see cute photo posts all in one place. Sometimes you just need that kind of balance. I usually open it when I need a break from TikTok… which now that I think about it, might say a lot about how much I’m on my phone. Oops.
Instagram also nails it when it comes to knowing exactly who its audience is. The algorithm’s almost too good. Like, as a teenage girl, my feed is full of aesthetic hairstyle tutorials, outfit inspo, and cute cafes I’ll never actually go to. But if you hand the app to a teenage boy? Suddenly, it’s all video game clips, gym fails, and memes that were 100% made to be sent to the “boys group chat.” It’s like Instagram knows our personalities better than we do—and honestly, it’s a little scary how accurate it is sometimes.
X (Will I Get Canceled For Talking About This?)
Formerly known as the iconic (and slightly less chaotic) platform Twitter, X now feels like the mean older brother who won’t stop picking fights just for the drama. I swear, I can’t open the app without immediately being hit with someone’s political hot take, followed by an angry reply, and just like that, war has officially broken out in the comment section. It’s messy, intense… and honestly? Weirdly entertaining. But here’s the twist most people don’t expect: as a college softball player, X helped me get recruited. I know, wild. While most people see it as a place for debates and doomscrolling, it’s also where coaches scout, players post highlights, and opportunities pop up if you use it right.
Think about it: X is the one app where you can post anything, and it has a crazy number of views. No, like seriously. People will drop the most random thoughts or unfiltered opinions on their feed, and it takes off. X is just raw chaos compared to Instagram, where everything feels curated and intentional. And I think that’s exactly why people feel more free to post there. It’s not anyone’s go-to platform unless you’re a politician… or maybe someone who thrives off drama at 2 a.m. Either way, it’s unhinged, and that’s kind of its brand now.
So yeah, I decided to post a video of me pitching—and it got over 35,000 views. That one post gave me a ton of exposure to college coaches because it landed right on their feeds, thanks to the hashtags I used. Little marketing trick… if you know, you know. So even though X can be a negative space a lot of the time, I’ve personally seen some major benefits. It’s chaotic, sure. But for me, it actually opened doors.
Sometimes I feel like a chicken with its head cut off, bouncing between all these apps. I honestly can’t even imagine being an influencer with millions of followers trying to keep up with every platform—no wonder they hire managers. But it makes me wonder… are my friends and I even really satisfied? Does any of this stick with us later in life? Or is it all just one big distraction from what actually matters, the people around us? (Unless, of course, you don’t like the people around you… in that case, get back on your phone and keep scrolling.)
Moral of the story: we’re everywhere, all at once, and somehow, still bored.
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Maggie Grant is a marketing intern at Keep it Real Social, where she brings a fresh Gen Z perspective to digital marketing. She’s currently pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in Marketing with a minor in Sports Media and plays college softball. Maggie has over two years of experience behind the camera, capturing photo and video content that tells a story. When she’s not studying, playing ball, or creating content, she enjoys fishing, reading, and indulging in her favorite treat—ice cream.
