The story of the 21st century is the story of online social networking, and this collection of social media innovations is a fascinating look at how the world’s fastest growing phenomenon is rapidly changing the face of business, pop culture and day-to-day human interaction.
With over 500 million people around the world now using Facebook and with businesses flocking to utilities like Twitter to interact with their customers, the age of social media innovations has given way to some surprising new products and services. From facilitating protests and civil disobedience, to allowing consumers to play a bigger role in determining the paths of their favorite companies and products, online communities afford users an unparalleled number of ways to shape the world around them while also sharing their experiences with their peers. And as consumers flock to social media platforms, so too must businesses scramble to follow them.
Indeed when it comes to social media innovations, the future is undoubtedly an adapt-or-die situation.
98 Social Media Innovations
97
Geeky Facebook Avatars
Ashley Hay Gives the Default Facebook Photo a Reboot
96
Social Media Workspaces
Scott Brigg Designs the New Google London Headquarters
95
Social Media Cushions
Craftsquatch Creates a New Line of Adorable Internet Pillows
94
Social Media Artvertising
Create Your Own Ad with the AmEx Canvas Contest
93
Religious Rebranding
Artist Yulia Bakhtiozina Converts Popular Brand Packaging
92
Personified Website Stereotypes
The Social Media Class of 2011 is the Web's Pop Culture Prequel
91
Social Mediamobiles
The Porsche Facebook Edition is Something You'll Definitely 'Like'
90
Social Media Sacrifices
Celebs Offer Up Their Digital Lives for the Buy Life Campaign
89
Social Media Shoes
The Adidas Facebook & Twitter Shoes Bring New Meaning to Follow Friday
88
Social Media Photo Wars
The Sony NEX-5 Profile Hero Competition Lets You Get Creative
87
Social Media Printing
Social Print Studio Lets You Bring Your Online Experience To Life
86
Custom Facebook Books
The EgoBook Allows you to Reminisce Over Status Updates
85
Gruesome Facebook Likes
31st Oporto International Film Festival Poster is Bloody Good
84
Social Media Tombstones
Tweet & Share with the Dead Using the E-Tomb
83
Social Media Body Art
T-Pain Gets a Facebook-Themed Tattoo
82
Status Update T-Shirts
Share & Wear Your Status With the UpdateMeTee Shirt
81
Social Media Food Spoofs
This New KFC Ad is a Familiarly Funny Way to "Like" Your Meal
80
Fake Chinese Facebooks
Social Networks in China Mimic Facebook in the Void Left by Censorship
79
Singles Status-Stalking Apps
The Breakup Notifier Takes Facebook Creeping to a Whole New Level
78
Enlightening Social Media Fixtures
The Twitter Ball by Sarah Turner is an Eco-Conscious & Recycled
77
Social Media Artvertising Campaigns (UPDATE)
Trend Hunter to Compete in AmEx Canvas Contest
76
Judgmental Social Media Marking
Facebook Like & Dislike Stamps Make Paperwork Fun
75
Social Media Marijuana Support
Legalizing Pot in California is Backed by Facebook Employees
74
Social Media Frocks
The Facebook Dress is Sure to Get You Poked Anywhere You Go
73
Social Video Conversations
Become an Internet Television Star Through the VYou Website
72
Social Media Friend Maps
Facebook Map Highlights the World's Relationships
71
Face-Infiltrated Profiles
The Facebook Profile Picture Hack Lets Your Photo Take Over
70
Vivacious Online Personalities
Sexy Nerd Girl is a Fascinating Interactive Social Media Narrative
69
Social Media Druggies
Monica Gebruikt Tries to Get Addicted to Facebook Instead of Drugs
68
Medical Social Media Art
Anne Van Den Berg Sketches Insightful Illustrations
67
Twitterific Cushions
These Anony Tweet Pillows are for the Chirpy Tweeps
66
Social Media Coffee Gifts
The Starbucks Card eGift Program is for Any Occasion
65
Retro Social Media Promos
This Linkedin and Fedex Promo is Comically Redolent of the 80s
64
Social Media Glamorizing
The Shockblast Layout Awesomizes Your Facebook Profile Page
63
Social Media Memoirs
The Facebook Book by Perfect Fools Preserves Your Online Persona
62
Social Networking Phones
The HTC Chacha and Salsa Fulfill all your Networking Needs
61
Democratic Design Stores
StyleFactory Furniture Website Brings Consumer Choice to the Table
60
Online Gossip Creators
The 180 Amsterdam Rumour Generator is Full of Juicy Secrets
59
DIY Luxury Auto Designs
The BMW EDIZONE Contest is to be Hosted on Facebook
58
Interactive Exercise Apps
'Git Fit' for iPhone Turns Working Out into Social Networking
57
Anti-Drunk Applications
The Social Media Sobriety Test Saves You From Embarrassment
56
Social Media Slugfests
UFC Facebook Streaming Offers Sidestep TV to Bring Fights to Fans
55
Personal Social Media Stories
Facebook Sponsored Stories Turn Your Updates into Advertising
54
Personalized Social Media Profiles
The Schweppes Facebook Application Makes Customization Easy
53
Social Media Alarm Clocks
The Alarm App Tweets and Facebooks Your Morning Wake-Up
52
Time-Saving Toolbars
The Microsoft Bing Bar 7 Puts Information at the Forefront
51
Astrological Twitter Reactions
The Ophiuchus Zodiac Change Reverberates Through Social Media
50
Social Media Smartphones
The INQ Facebook Phone Optimizes Online Interaction
49
Social Media Business Buttons
LinkedIn Share Button Just Launched for Social Connectivity
48
Social Media Archival Sites
Ninuku Archivist Saves All of Your Precious Facebook Posts & Updates
47
Social Media Speeches
The 2011 State of the Union Address Was More Wired than Ever
46
Social Media Posters
Make Your Own Facebook Canvas With Social Artworks
45
Facebook Page Celebrations
Disney Facebook Likes Hit a Whopping 100 Million Clicks
44
Social Media Baby Names
The Facebook Baby is Named After the Social Network
43
Digital Loyalty Points
Aneace Haddad Creates Loyalty Program via Taggo for Consumers
42
Photo-Sharing Services
The Picplz App Offers Cool Photo Filters from Your Smartphone
41
Virtual Internships
Toolwire Learning Environments Boast the First-Ever Online Interns
40
Powerful Political Protest Videos
This Egyptian Protest Viral Peers Inside the Country's Unrest
39
Facebook Movie Parodies
The 'Social Network Parody' Makes Fun of Mark Zuckerberg
38
Social Networking Search Engines
Google 'Plus One' is Rumored to Rival Facebook
37
Inquisitive Interactive Apps
Facto Me Reveals Facts and Secrets to Social Networks
36
Social Cooking Sites
The Foodily Recipe Network Makes Cooking at Home an Online Social Experience
35
Social Media SIM Cards
Facebook for SIM Gives Keeps Feature Phone Users Connected
34
TV Show-Identifying Apps
Share What You're Watching on TV With the IntoNow iPhone App
33
Facebook Memoirs
Watch a Man's Life Transpire Through Facebook's Interface
32
Social Media Facial Recognition
Facebook's Latest Feature Will Auto-Tag Your Photos
31
Facebook Newspapers
This PostPost App is a Real-Time Social Newspaper from Your FB Networks
30
Food-Finding Websites
Foodily Brings People Together Through Food and Facebook
29
Social Media Stalking Apps
The New Loopt App Creeps Your Facebook Friends for You
28
Home Exchange Websites
Luxe Home Swap Uses Social Media to Connect Travelers
27
Muppet Late-Night Show Hosts
The Cookie Monster SNL Audition is 100 Percent Serious
26
Virtual Twitter Gifts
Gift a Follower to Your Most Loyal Tweep and Say Thank You
25
Social Media Merchandising
The JCPenny Shop on Facebook Brings Retail to Online Reticulation
24
Social Media Security Upgrades
Facebook Secure Connections and Social Captchas are Positive Steps
23
Social Media Videojournalism
Egypt: A Nation Forced Offline Delivers a Profound Viral Message
22
Social Media Conversation Starters
Chat With Like-Minded Individuals With AnybodyOutThere
21
Social Media Musician Finders
The Tweetlouder App Finds Your Favorite Bands for You
20
Social Runvertising
'Unleash Your Run' by Nike Treads the Streets of Paris
19
Champagne Cheers Apps
The Ikea Skal! App Lets You Share Your Simulated Toast
18
Social Media Governing
The New CIA Website Incorporates User-Friendly Web 2.0 Media
17
Free Facebook Flights
Seven Major Airlines Team Up to Provide Free In-Flight Facebook for February
16
Status-Changing Commercials
This 'Update the Rainbow' Facebook App Updates Your Posts for You
15
Mutant Movie Trailers
The Wait is Over for the Official X-Men: First Class Trailer
14
Hovering Social Media Extensions
The Google Chrome Cortex Makes Sharing Better and Faster
13
Braille Avatars
This Baoxin Li Technology Could Unlock Digital Social Media Images for the Blind
12
Social Media Web Browsers
The RockMelt Web Browser Puts Friends First
11
Social Media Tablets
Fuugo brings Television, Mobile TV and Internet TV Together
10
Social City-Planning Games
Zynga Cityville is a New Vice for Farmville Addicts on Facebook
9
Online Activism Initiatives
The Gap Facebook Campaign Aims to Donate $1 for Every Like
8
Online Military Mandates
The U.S. Army Social Media Handbook Governs Internet Policies
7
Social Media Donation Services (UPDATE)
Twitpay is an Charitable Online Payment Platform
6
Social Media Recorders
TinyVox iPhone App is the Social Tape Deck for Your iPhone
5
Voicemail Tweeting
Egypt's Twitter by Voicemail Translates 140 Characters
4
Crowdsourced Twitter Songs
Juan Zelada Uses Twitter Confessions to Inspire Music
3
Social Media Sacrifices
Mark Zuckerberg Plans to Shut Down Facebook for Earth Hour
2
Social Media Histories
JESS3 Educates on the State of Wikiepedia
1
Social Media Cyborgs
Joseph Tame Plans to Broadcast his Tokyo Marathon Run via an iRig
Related Ideas
Social e-Commerce Platforms
Hoppn Creates "A New Type of Centralized Online Shopping Experience"
Gen Z IRL Campaigns
Hinge's Phonebook Encourages Gen Z to Connect IRL for Global Day of Unplugging
Supportive Entrepreneur Communities
Ooutliers Shares Insights From Successful Startups
AI Social Media Managers
Friz is an All-in-One Tool for DTC Brands on Social
Sticker-Creating Social Tools
Instagram Releases a New Sticker Creation Feature for Creators
Social Media News Updates
Meta's Threads Update Features a 'Trending Now' Feed for Relevant News
Co-Browsing Shopping Platforms
buywith's Next Gen Co-Browsing Patent Helps Customers Shop Together
Digital Streetwear Collaborations
The Fabricant x Highsnobiety Dropped During Paris Fashion Week
Creative Text-to-Infographic Tools
Infography Converts Blog Posts to Artistic Infographics
Decentralized Social Media Platforms
Meta Launched Threads, a Decentralized Alternative to Twitter
AI-Aided Social Networks
Why Be Real Online when you can BeFake
Advanced Adaptive Retail Experiences
Walmart Unveiled New Retail Technologies at CES 2024
Gen Alpha Social Media Apps
'SendIt' is Designed for Youth to Socialize through Games and Chatting
Community Commerce Pop-Ups
TikTok Shop UK Opened a Pop-Up on London's Oxford Street
Travel-Focused Marketing Guides
TikTok Debuts a Playbook for Travel Marketers to Foster Engagement
Viral Video Databases
Viral Ideas Offers Inspiration for a Content Creator's Next Big Video
AI Advertisement Additions
Meta Introduces a New Suite of AI-Powered Advertising Tools
Social Commerce Apps
GIST is an App-Based Social Platform for Sharing Purchases with Friends
Micro-Influencer Marketing Services
SCREENSHOT Micro Boost Refines the Brand-Creator Experience
AI-Powered Content Generators
OwlyWriter is a Tool from Hootsuite for Creating Social Content Fast
Social Commerce Platforms
21 Buttons is a Social Fashion Shopping Network
Communication-Based Immersive Exhibitions
Intuit Mailchimp and Design Museum Present Email is Dead
Avant-Garde Coffee Table Books
New Society Hosts 'Decentralization, Please Save Culture' Event
Influencer-Focused AI Updates
CreatorIQ Utilizes AI To Help Marketers Track Creator Conversations
Integrated Influencer Marketing Platforms
SocialTalk Helps Users Discover, Track, and Connect
Technology News Summaries
TechTok Helps Readers Stay On Top of News in Five Minutes
Product Exploration Retailer Tools
These New Instacart Discovery Tools Connect Brands to Retailers
Image-Based Alternative Social Medias
'Noteit' is a Snapchat-Inspired App for Gen Alpha Users
Immersive Virtual Television Experiences
Television for Apple Vision Shapes the Future of TV
AI Storytelling Platforms
Story.com Combines AI with Creativity for Limitless Possibilities
AI-powered News Curators
Brief is a News Organizing Tool That You Can Personalize
Social Media Political-Content Limitations
Meta is Reducing Political Content Recommendations
Product Maker Launch Platforms
MicroLaunch Offers a Streamlined Avenue for Feedback
Visualized Social Media Data
InstaGraph Visualizes Social Media Data Through Unique Graphs
360 Photo Booths
PhotoboothTO Introduces the Future of Event Photography in Canada
Social Marketplace Updates
Instagram Launches a Marketplace to Better Connect Brands and Creators
Youth-Focused Social Campaigns
Claire’s Introduces a New Gen Z-Alpha Platform Called 'The Collab'
Swipable Curated Ad Inspiration
Swipify Lets Users Swipe Through the Latest Ad Campaigns
Professional Short-Form Video Feeds
LinkedIn is Testing a TikTok-Like System on its Platform
Social Shopping Apps
Locker Helps Users Organize, Share, and Earn from Online Wishlists.
Minimalist Social Media Platforms
Bluesky is a Simple, Minimalist Social Media Platform
AI Social Media Assistants
Olly is a Personal AI Assistant Designed to Help Social Media Managers
Social Shopping Features
YouTube Introduces a New 'Shopping Collections' Feature for Creators
Social Dating App Features
Tinder Now Supports Collaborative Matchmaking with Friends and Family
Inspiring Productivity Apps
Every Day Matters with Timeline - 17 and Its Unique Features
Miniature Collectible Campaigns
The World’s Smallest Lines are the Focus of Influencer Marketing
Loneliness-Combating Social Campaigns
Hinge Launches the New One More Hour Campaign and Fund
AI-Powered Socialization Apps
The 'BU' App Takes an AI-Driven Approach to Event Planning
AI Search Engines
OSO AI Scans Text Across the Expanse of the Internet
Publicly Available Social Medias
'Bluesky' is Now Open to All Users Without Invitation
Thought-Provoking Social Apps
Skaldic is an App for Curious Minds
Social Media Forecasting Tools
WGSN TikTok Analytics Harness Data, Insights and More
Modern WiFi-Equipped Toasters
Revolution Cooking Previews its Advanced Revolution Toaster
Accessible Mixed-Reality Media
Chapter 2 Welcomes New Society to Revolutionize the Media Frontier
Film Industry Networking Apps
The 'BeScene' App Takes a Swiping Approach to Networking
Retro Social App Devices
Edwar Banquet Designs the Retro Instagram Gadget with a Console Shape
AI Social Media Tools
Axoon Will Post Personalized Content to Your Socials
AI Social Media Management
From Discovery to Post Scheduling – Storefries Does it All
Social Media AI Chatbots
Instagram Plans to Incorporate its Own AI Chatbots in the App
Connective Music Platforms
Musicat.fm Offers a Dynamic Community for Music Lovers
Social Reading Apps
Fable is a Social App for Readers That Goes Beyond Book Clubs
Private Social Photo Apps
The 'Retro' App Focuses on Mindful Sharing with Select Others
Digital Audio-Visual Exhibitions
'Future Shock' by 180 Studios and FACT Magazine is Online
Content Creator News Sources
Creative Brew Offers Daily Insight and News for Content Creators
Gen Z Advertising Tools
YouTube Launches a New Music Tool to Connect Advertisers with Gen Z
Inspirational Learning Management Tools
'Get Inspired' Offers Digestible Snippets of Content
Influencer Partnership Platforms
impact.com Launches a New Platform for Influencer Management
AI Social Media Generators
Snowball FATG Can Help Create Viral Social Moments in Seconds
Digital Social Sharing Spaces
The Shilo App Invites Users to Share and Curate What They Love
AI Academic Organization Tools
Storyline Smith Streamlines Study Notes Using AI Technology
AI-Powered Influencer Management
Hypothesis Debuts a New Influencer Marketing Deal with Togglehead
Interconnected Messaging Ecosystems
Whatsapp to Introduce Support for Messages Third-Party Apps
Decentralized Onboarding App Processes
Mastodon is Simplifying its Sign-Up to Attract Users
Promotional Influencer Videos
Activision Recruits Multiple Creators to Appeal to Gen Z Consumers
Passion-Sharing List Platforms
MyLikes Helps Users Share What They Enjoy with Curated Lists
AI Research Collaboration Platforms
Synthical is an Online Community for Scientists and Research
Limited Political Social Medias
Meta's 'Threads' Allows Users to Limit Political Content Shown
Community-Driven Collector Apps
Connectible is a First-of-Its-Kind Social Media App for Collectors
MENA-Focused Influencer Platforms
Mitgo Group Debuts the Takefluence Platform for Content Creators
Marketing Mentorship Platforms
Sprout Social Launches as a New Business Mentorship Network
Entrepreneur Brand-Building Tools
IndieLogs Helps Founders Stand Out Through Personalized Profiles
Social Media-Limiting Apps
Elqi Intervenes with Meditation to Limit Social Media Time
Authenticated News Apps
Digital Trust Network 'Click' Challenges the Threat of Misinformation
Pro-Community Social Media Apps
Take Creates Real Life Interactions Through a Social Network
Automated Social Media Posting
PosterGPT Uses AI to Post the Latest News Stories to Your Feed
AI-Powered Creative Services
WePost Saga Helps Businesses Enhance Their Online Social Presence
Social E-Commerce Platforms
TikTok is Launching a New E-Commerce Platform for Consumers
SaaS Influencer Marketing Tools
Beeing Social Launches 'Buzz Bee Buzz' for Influencer Marketing
AI-Powered Influencer Searches
Vidovo Launches a Influencer Discovery Feature with AI Capabilities
Localized Networking Platforms
Presence Connects Users with Like-Minded Individuals Nearby
Creator Content Hubs
TikTok Launches a New World Hub to Help Brands Connect with Audiences
Secondary Social Media Features
Instagram is Rolling out the Flipside Feature On User Profiles
Social Engagement Platforms
Perspik Provides an Online Space for Thoughtful Engagement
Simplified Social Sharing Features
Reddit is Announcing its New Shared Link for Text Posts
Professional Community Platforms
LinkedIn is Targeting Gen Z Professionals with its New Campaign
Social Telegrammed Messaging Features
Instagram's Broadcast Channels Will Soon Launch Globally
Music-Focused Social Media
Musicboard is a Place for Music Lovers to Unite
City Exploration Apps
Concrete is a Social Exploration App Inviting Users to Discover Their City
Media Release Monitoring Apps
The 'Upcoming' App Helps Users Track Favorite Media and Explore
Niche Interest Social Networks
Spiral Social Was Inspired by Wikipedia Topics
Network-Connecting AI Solutions
Village AI Connect with Your Network to Close Deals
Private Influencer Social Groups
CNDO Offers Private Social Rooms for Influencers and Their Fans
Modern Business Card Scanners
Spreadly Scan Brings Networking to the Modern Age
Networking Platform In-App Games
LinkedIn is Working on Integrating Games to its Platform
Healthcare Marketing Deals
Haleon Taps Collectively to Enhance its Influencer Marketing Strategies
Social App Feature Updates
Instagram is Moving the Status Update Notes to Profiles
Private Social Media Services
Instagram Now Allows Posts and Reels to be Shared with Close Friends
Personalized Professional Content Generators
Viralify AI Crafts LinkedIn Posts to Save You Time
Cocktail-Inspired Togetherness Activations
Smirnoff's Global Connectivity Initiative Launched
Secondary Social Profile Features
Instagram Previews a New Flipside Feature for Private Posting
Year-Long Professional Content Calendars
Content Squeezy Provides Social media Ideas
Privacy-Enhancing Social Features
Pinterest Launches the New Safety Features for Young Users
AI-Generated Social Ad Copy
the M1-Project Helps Business Owners Convert Using Social Media
Long-Form Content Social Platforms
X Allows Premium+ Subscribers to Create Long-Form Articles
Bite-Sized Gen Z News
Mata.Today Offers Quick Insights for Gen Z to Easily Digest
Community-Building Social Features
OpenChat Debuts the 'Communities' Feature for Group Management
Real-Time Social Maps
Mapin is a Social Map That Connects the Community Through Content
Professional Networking Platforms
Peerlist Helps Individuals and Businesses Create Profiles
Randomly Generated Social Feeds
Roul8 is a Social Media Platform Filled with Surprise
Daily-Prompting Social Journals
Journal. Invites Users to Share Their Thoughts and Feelings
Efficient Fact Generators
Facts Generator Can Produce Interesting Facts About Any Subject
Personalized Visual Catalogues
With Jotly, users can streamline their online discoveries
Location-Based Photo Sharing
Harbor Creates Personalized Picture Albums Through location Sharing
Online Poker Engagement Features
Stretch Network Confirms the Launch of Three New Features
Creative Collaboration Clubs
Dazed Has Launched a New Social Media App Called Dazed Club
Social-Platform Live Sport Features
Threads is Rolling Out Live Sports Scores with the NBA
Efficient Personalized Idea Newsletters
Sofon Curates Personalized Insights From Numerous Sources
Crowdsourced Fact-Checking Features
Twitter Launches the Fact-Checking 'Community Notes' Feature
Diverse Leadership Inanities
Civic Nation Launched a New Initiative Dubbed the Change Collective
Organized Listed Article Platforms
The Pocket Service Unveils a Plethora of New Features
Social Wishlist Networks
WishSpace Lets Users Store Their Wishlists for Easier Gifting
Personalized Lifelong Digital Journals
Now and When is a Digital Journal That Moves Through Life
Community Social Apps
Beezle Social Keeps Users Informed Connected with Their Neighbors
Creativity-Focused Online Networks
NOCK is an Online Network for Creatives to Collaborate
Private Social Media Notes
Minders Offers a Private Space for Reflection and Thoughts
Presidential Note Campaigns
Joe Biden Launches a New Boomer-Focused Campaign Using the Notes App
Unconventional Daily Calendars
With Calendiary, Users are Encouraged to Share Their Personal Story
Novelty Polling Websites
Funnypoll Gives Users a Quick Laugh in an Often Overwhelming Online Space
Joyfully Curated Homepages
Curations.club is a Digital Platform to Share What You Love
Personalized Content Discovery Tools
Bread Allows Users To Discover Social Content and Save it