By: Rachel Weaver | @RachelWeaver123

Social media has become an integrated part of the lives of millions of people. We are constantly checking, updating and reading things posted by friends and followers. Did something exciting happen? Chances are you tweeted it before calling your mom. So what happens when people are looking for yet another way to stay uber-connected? Enter, the smartwatch. Smartwatches have been around since the early 2000s, and they have recently gained substantial momentum since companies like Apple, Pebble, Samsung, Sony, LG and Motorola have released versions. Although most designs are sleek and stylish, smartwatches are more than just a fashion statement--they are a new frontier for social media.

What’s special about smartwatches?

The smartwatch is just another platform for connectivity through social media. As the smartphone market becomes more and more saturated, it’s only natural social media companies shift focus to the next big thing. The greatest difference is that smartwatches provide a heightened level of access to news feeds, messaging, and notifications. Because it’s right on your wrist, you can check your Twitter without ever getting out your phone. Apps on smartphones generally have a small time lag before the news feed updates. On a smartwatch, developers have erased that time lag so you can send and receive updates in real time.

Social Apps for smartwatches

Twitter is the ideal social network for the smartwatch because each post has a 140 character limit. This is perfect for the small surface area of a watch. Most features (tweet, retweet, favorite, follow, etc.) are available on the Twitter app for smartwatches, and you can even enter tweets by speaking into the watch.

Facebook is looking to smartwatches to increase its location-based services. Wearable tech can utilize data that tells apps where you are and what you’re doing. This gives you more opportunities to connect with people and businesses near your current location. You can also have more insight into notifications. Have you ever gotten a Facebook notification only to find out that it’s a game request or another underwhelming alert? With a smartwatch, you can see each notification and then decide if it’s worth taking your phone out to check. Responding to friend requests is instantaneous, too.

Snapchat users, fear not! This app has not been forgotten in smartwatch territory. You can exchange small snaps taken on the watch.  

LinkedIn’s smartwatch app is looking to connect people even quicker and easier. For example, imagine two businesspeople at a conference who are meeting for the first time. Each is wearing a smartwatch, and they shake hands. The handshake alerts the LinkedIn app to automatically establish the connection online.