The dominant social media giants on the planet have some competition.  With start-ups entering the fray left and right, there are plenty of options if you find yourself wanting a change from your normal networks.  Below are some social media sites (and interesting apps) for a little bit of variety:

1.  Whisper 

As the name implies, Whisper allows users to secretly share what is on their mind.  On their website, it has many categories you can search, from “Love & Romance” to “Faith” and “Politics.”  The idea behind Whisper is that by being able to anonymously share your thoughts and secrets, users can have open and honest discussions.  Whisper allows you to anonymously send direct messages asking others for advice, or just to chat.  The app is available for both Android and iOS devices.  

2. Secret   

Seems like anonymity is in demand.  Secret is a social platform for users to anonymously share feelings and thoughts.  While it may sound similar to Whisper, Secret actually imports your contacts from Facebook or people in your contacts on your mobile.  However, none of your posts have an author, so you don’t know who sends what.  In their community guidelines, Secret explains why they created their platform: “We believe anonymity empowers people to share their deepest thoughts and feelings, sparking genuine conversations that would otherwise be impossible.  Words are at the center of every secret, and it is our hope that our users will help us create a community that is a safe and liberating place for users to authentically express themselves.”  Both Android and iOS users can download the app so the secret sharing can take place no matter where you are.    

3.  WeChat

If you are fed-up with your basic text messaging service, WeChat is definitely something to test out.  Developed by the Chinese internet company Tencent, WeChat is a mobile text and voice messaging service, but it cranks it up a notch.  Not only does it allow you to make free calls, you can also send videos, create “Moments” by sharing photos, as well as start chat groups and meet new people by (not making this up) shaking your phone, which will let you know who else nearby is shaking their phone.  In addition, if you turn your location feature on, WeChat will let you know which other users are nearby as well as their approximate distance from you.  WeChat is available for Android, iOS, as well as Windows Phone, Symbian, and others.  

4. Shots

No, not for drinking.  This app is designed for those selfie-addicts who want to get that perfect picture.  The social network of Shots is solely for snapping and sharing selfies.  While you can’t upload previously taken pictures, you can reply to any Shot, as well as send private messages.  The Android app is coming soon, but iOS users already have an available app. 

5. We Heart It  

While it might appear on the surface as a Pinterest wannabe, We Heart It has more of an artsier appearance, as well as a younger vibe.  Rather than pinning images to boards, this app allows you to “heart” what inspires you to your “canvases” and add what you have discovered to your “collections”.  It is all about finding inspiration, collecting your favorites, and “hearting” what you love.  You can connect with other users as well to follow and share inspirations.  The app is available for both Android and iOS devices.  

6. Medium

Together, Biz Stone (formerly of Twitter) and Even Williams created Medium, a new micro-blogging platform.  Medium’s claim to uniqueness is that their focus is words: images can accompany your posts, but there are no plug-ins, widgets, sidebars, and no customization.  It is also a collaborative site: your posts link to others, and you can write with other people by hitting the “Share Draft” button to send via email to whomever you choose.  Without having to commit to a blogging schedule, Medium lets you post as often or infrequently as you want.  With users being able to recommend stories within their networks and curate their favorites, it is definitely a social site for all bloggers to check out. 

7. Bubblews    

Bubblews is a social networking startup that has an interesting twist of paying their users who generate the most traffic and attract advertisers.  Users can create posts, known here as “bubbles,” follow friends, as well as comment and “like” other bubbles.  The most recent posts are automatically loaded to the top of the home page, but if one wanted to “explore,” posts are organized into a variety of categories.  There is no mobile app as of right now for Bubblews, but that shouldn’t deter you from checking out this interesting new site.   

Original Article Appeared on Mashable