10+ Niche Social Media Sites & Vertical Networks to Join in 2022

Just about everyone’s on Facebook. And Twitter. And TikTok. And Instagram.

And that’s fine.

But, with so much noise, these major social networking platforms make it difficult for students and young professionals to stand out, get support, or connect with like-minded people.

That’s where the niche social media sites come in.

A niche social media site, sometimes referred to as a vertical social media site, is a networking platform with a specific focus for people with a particular interest. When you join a community that fits your passion or profession, say one for adventure travels or for sharing recipes, you leave most of the distractions, negativity, and irrelevance behind.

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Here are 10 great niche social media sites to join in 2022:

1. Behance

Behance is the premier vertical social network for creative people, from graphic artists to web designers and more. Owned by Adobe, Behance has more than 10 million people among its members from all over the world.

If you’re starting out in the professional world and looking for your first job in a creative field, a Behance portfolio is a must.

2. BlogHer

BlogHer is the top vertical social media platform for female content creators. Began as a conference back in 2005, BlogHer has now become a powerhouse for women bloggers, digital marketers, and other female entrepreneurs. Today, the BlogHer community offers yearly conferences, an advertising network, and a massive women-led community for support and feedback.

3. Meetup

Meetup has been around for a while, but it’s still going strong and deserves a spot on our list of vertical social networks.

Meetup helps people do just that—meet up, both digitally and in person. For students and young professionals in a new city for work or university, it can be a great place to make lifelong friends who share the same interests. Use it to network, collaborate, hike a trail together, or really just about anything you can think of. 

4. Dribbble

Yes, that’s three Bs in the name. 

Dribbble is the other major player when it comes to showcasing your digital creations as an online portfolio. Self-promotion is necessary when it comes to the competitive world of digital design, and Dribble gives young professionals all the tools necessary to impress future clients or employers. 

5. Letterboxd

For movie junkies, there’s no better place to connect than on Letterboxd. Built as a social network specifically for film lovers, Letterboxd lets you track movies you’ve watched, leave your ratings and opinions, create movie lists, and more. 

6. Goodreads

For those of you who prefer books to movies, Goodreads is the place for you. It’s a great place to track the books you’ve read, leave book ratings and reviews, and discover new reading material. On the social side of things, a lively discussion forum gives you a place to share opinions and discuss the latest reads, reading competitions abound, and, if you’re lucky, you can ask a question and have it answered by your favorite author themselves! When I’m not writing for the Goodwall blog or Dauntless Jaunter, you can bet I’ll be on Goodreads.

7. Houzz

Are you into architecture or interior design? Then Houzz is the perfect social media platform for you. You can browse designs by other members, connect with professionals and building amateurs alike, and give and receive support with their community of over 40 million homeowners around the world.

8. Stack Overflow

Stack Overflow is THE place to be when you’re in IT. Just about every technical question ever can be found answered in detail on Stack Overflow. And, if not, you can get a quick response to your query from their millions of dedicated users. Topics range from JavaScript to PHP to jQuery and beyond.

9. Instructables

Are you a proud DIYer? Or maybe just looking to get help with a simple home repair task? If you make things and don’t want to break things, head over to Instructables.

Instructables is a community built around do-it-yourself projects. Users can collaborate to knock out a project quickly and easily, find video tutorials on how to do such and such, or post a tutorial of their own. And, if you need to have a discussion, there’s a great forum where you can get support, showcase your completed weekend warrior project, or help others turn their ideas into a reality.

10. Meetup

Meetup isn’t a new site, but it definitely counts as one of the best niche social media platforms on the web.

Meetup is really a community of communities, where people can find local events in their respective cities and neighborhoods. If you can’t find one that fits you, create your own! They have local groups in dozens of categories, from outdoors to language learning to business groups and even ones devoted to niche gaming communities.

11. Goodwall

Oh hey, that’s us! 

Sorry for tooting our own horn, but we feel Goodwall definitely deserves a spot on this list. Goodwall has grown to well over 1.5 million members, mostly millennials and those from Gen Z. Since we cater to the younger crowd, many still in high school, navigating the university landscape, or trying to land an internship or get their first job, Goodwall has become the best social network for students and young professionals.

Don’t believe us?

Just download the app (links below) and give it a try for yourself. You can share ideas, ask questions, and complete a web profile much more powerful than an old school resume. And, with a community this supportive, positive, and diverse, we’re sure you’ll find yourself feeling right at home! 

Well, that’s our top 10 niche and vertical social media platforms to join in 2022. Got any feedback, questions, or other niche social platforms to add to our list? Leave a comment below, and thank you for reading!