Social media is used around the world. People of all ages use it, and there are many different variations available. There are apps like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram that we use to stimulate our dopamine receptors, and when we want to watch something interesting, we find it. While these apps are great, most people prefer one over the other, and we need to figure out which one reigns supreme among the big three apps: YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.

At first glance, these apps appear similar. You can watch tutorials and videos, and interact with others via messaging or comments, but each has unique features. Starting with YouTube, the most popular of the bunch. This app, created in 2005, was designed for people to share videos of themselves around the world. Whether you create high-effort content with a big-budget production, for example, MrBeast, or sit down at a computer to talk to an audience live, like iShowSpeed, YouTube has almost everything you can think of. It even has games, so you can imagine it is very versatile.

​

TikTok, created in 2016, has rapidly gained popularity. This app features vertical short-form videos ranging from a few seconds to an hour. Content includes dance videos, popularized by Charli D’Amelio, and reaction videos. TikTok also has a shop for merchandise and is known to boost musicians’ careers, such as Addison Rae and Alex Warren.

​

Instagram, the least popular of the three, has been used a lot by the younger generation. Released in 2010, Instagram is mainly used for people to share photos of themselves for others to see. Some notable people who have a massive Instagram following include soccer players Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, and actress plus music artist Selena Gomez. One of the most popular features on Instagram that TikTok and YouTube don’t have is something called DMs, or Direct Messages. With this feature, you can speak with anyone who has an Instagram account, and sometimes they will reply.

​

I asked a few people which app they believe is the best, and this is what everybody said. Senior Ketsia Jean said, “Instagram, because of the Reels algorithm and the system of messaging people. It is also a good place to look at pop culture events.” Another Senior, Bryanna Fernandez, said, “TikTok because it is a good place to search for reviews on different products and a good place to research about the government.” The two girls made a good point when I interviewed them, claiming that Instagram is a good place for celebrity drama and a place to search up popular events like Coachella, and TikTok is a good place to learn about the current state of the government and any updates surrounding it.

Out of everyone I interviewed, only one of them said YouTube was the best. Senior Kerveen Boussiaquot. He said, “YouTube because it is the best place for information.” YouTube is probably the best place for people to research anything, whether that is politics, food, or more.

Personally, my most used social media app is YouTube, but that is because I don’t use TikTok or Instagram, so take my opinion with a grain of salt. Something I do believe is that YouTube has almost everything that TikTok and Instagram have, and more. The only difference is that TikTok has a shop and Instagram has Direct Messaging. Which of these social media titans do you believe is the best: TikTok, YouTube, or Instagram?